Newcastle United

Newcastle completing this free transfer ahead of West Ham could turn out to be a masterstroke by Benitez

Share

Why Newcastle United must quickly snap up free agent Diego Reyes

As per reports, Newcastle United are interested in Mexico international defender Diego Reyes. West Ham are also keen on the 25-year-old.

Reyes, capped 53 times by Mexico, is a free agent after his contract at Porto expired in the summer. The defender was unable to star for his country at the 2018 World Cup due to a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Turkish giants Fenerbahce have reportedly made Reyes an offer but Newcastle must have a serious look in at the Mexican star.

Newcastle United finished 10th in the Premier League last season and Rafael Benitez must look to make the necessary improvements to break into the top-6 and qualify for Europe next term.

Benitez needs to be more ambitious in the transfer market but as his budget is unclear, he has managed to sign just three players so far.

Diego Reyes

The Magpies are in the midst of a frustrating summer transfer period, as it has been difficult to secure important reinforcements ahead of the 2018-19 campaign. However, there are plenty of bargains in the free transfer market that Benitez could have a look at.

Reyes is one of the players Benitez must consider snapping up. The Mexican, now a free agent, most recently played 22 games for Porto last season as the club won the league title under Sergio Conceicao.

However, Reyes was unfortunate not to play in the recently concluded World Cup due to a hamstring injury despite initially being named in the preliminary Mexico squad. After joining Porto from Club America in 2013, Reyes also served loan spells at Real Sociedad and Espanyol.

Speaking about his style of play, Reyes is mainly a central defender but is equally comfortable playing as a defensive midfielder. The 25-year-old is strong in the air, intelligent in his positioning and a very good reader of the game.

He is also comfortable on the ball and is capable of playing crisp, defence-splitting passes. The Mexican is also a calm defender, who rarely gets flustered when under pressure.

Standing at 6ft 2in tall, Reyes is a towering defender whose presence in Newcastle’s defence would stabilise them significantly, and Benitez’s men would not be vulnerable leaking in goals from set-pieces.

His international pedigree with Mexico would also prove to be pivotal to the Magpies and the Mexican could be a brilliant option to fill the squad, particularly with Chancel Mbemba slated to leave the club this summer after being told not to return to training.

Read more: Why this former Premier League star could be the man to solve Newcastle’s goalscoring woes

In the absence of Mbemba, Newcastle would have only three recognised centre-backs although Paul Dummett can also play in central defence.

That’s where the signing of Reyes becomes so crucial, as he will not only add depth to the squad but also boost the defence ahead of the new season. If Newcastle manage to land Reyes, it would easily be deemed as a coup for Benitez.

Rohan Sengupta

Hi, I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7. Follow me @garrydevildada

Recent Posts

Everton vs Nottingham Forest preview, team news, tickets, and prediction

Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…

2 weeks ago

The Vital Role of Communication on the Soccer Field: Unlocking Success in Leagues

Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…

3 weeks ago

The Brilliance of Paul Scholes: A Midfield Maestro’s Illustrious Career

In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…

1 month ago

Online games on Football

Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…

1 month ago

Using Soccer News to Enhance Your Game Strategy

If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…

2 months ago

Interesting Facts About Football: 40 Questions and Answers

I have prepared some interesting and fun football facts for you, perfect for those who love the  thrill of discovery almost as much as the excitement found at https://www.staycasino.com/. Like the  unpredictable nature of casino games, these facts will surprise and intrigue you with unexpected  twists and turns in the world of football. Here is the complete list of 40 interesting and fun facts  about football.  What are the most interesting facts about football?  Football was invented in Italy, Messi is the highest-paid athlete, and the fastest a player has  been sent off is 0 seconds!  Stay ahead with these facts and impress with your knowledge. This collection contains many  football facts that will surprise you. Tell your friends new facts they don't know.  Interesting Facts About Football  Every football fan should know these facts. You can also surprise your children with what they  don't know!  When was football invented?  Modern football originated from the Florentine game of Calcio Fiorentino, played in the 14th …

2 months ago