Go for it Rafa – This 27-year-old could be the answer to Newcastle’s left-back woes

Why Newcastle United should go all out to sign Ambroise Oyongo

Newcastle United are in dire need of reinforcements and probably everybody can see that. The Magpies were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend that pushed them down to the bottom three because of points gained by their relegation rivals.

With more quality, perhaps, Newcastle United could have come out with a point against Chelsea after a spirited performance put in by Rafael Benitez’s men.

Rafael Benitez’s post-match interviews have become so predictable lately but what else can the Spanish manager say? Benitez is in need of quality players in the ongoing transfer market but the Newcastle owner is reluctant to back his manager with the funds.

Failure to sign players in the winter transfer window will be devastating for the Magpies as it could see them end up in relegation. The signs are ominous and Benitez needs to make his plea louder for new players to keep the Toon Army in the Premier League.

One area Benitez needs to strengthen is his backline despite adding defenders to the ranks in the summer transfer window. And in defence, a new left-back has to be in the Newcastle manager’s priority list.

Paul Dummett is the only senior player for that position but his season has again been disrupted by a hamstring problem. The left-back joined Jonjo Shelvey on the plane to Barcelona to try and sort out his recurring hamstring problem that has hampered his career.

In Dummett’s absence, Benitez has used Matt Ritchie as a makeshift left-back and while the Scotsman has done decently, there is no denying a need for another body in that area.

That said, Newcastle must target Montpellier left-back Ambroise Oyongo. The 27-year-old spent three seasons in the MLS with Montreal Impact from 2015-17 before joining Montpellier in January 2018. The Cameroonian has played 14 times in the Ligue 1 this season, contributing with two goals for his team.

Ambroise Oyongo is an attacking left-back who operates at a high intensity and is adept at delivering devilish crosses into the box. For Newcastle, the 27-year-old could be an ideal option as the player is comfortable in possession and defensively sound.

Newcastle are in serious danger of relegation as things stand, with Benitez’s side sitting at 18th place in the Premier League table. The latest defeat at Chelsea has piled further pressure on Benitez, who now needs to make a strong push to get reinforcements.

Read more: Newcastle would boost chances of avoiding a late relegation scrap by beating Liverpool to sign this teenage ace dubbed “Turkish Messi”

And a player like Ambroise Oyongo would be a welcome addition for the Magpies as the Cameroon international has the attributes to slot into Newcastle’s defence for many years.