Newcastle United Opinion: Why the Magpies should re-sign Kevin Mbabu

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is out of contract in the summer and has admitted he cannot give any assurances about his future at the club. Benitez is undoubtedly one of the footballing masterminds in Europe and is fighting against all the odds to keep Newcastle in the top flight.

If he stays put at Newcastle by signing a contract extension and avoids the drop, the Spaniard will definitely need at least half a dozen players to freshen up the squad for next season’s challenge.

Newcastle United would be aware of the fact that to keep getting positive results consistently in the future, they’ll need better players than the existing crop Benitez has at his disposal.

Come what may in summer, the Magpies—since breaking their transfer record in January after 14 long years by signing Miguel Almiron—will need to spend heavily again.

One of the areas Newcastle need strengthening after the end of this season is the defence, especially the right-back position. The Magpies have DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo as options at right-back but neither of them have been consistent this season.

Yedlin is excellent going forward but lacks the defensive diligence that has seen him get caught out of position a number of times. Manquillo is best suited to playing a back-up role and hasn’t challenged Yedlin much for a place in the starting XI.

That’s when bringing in a new right-back becomes important for the Magpies and the club should re-sign Kevin Mbabu in the summer.

Kevin Mbabu, 23, left the Magpies in 2017 after just three appearances to join BSC Young Boys and has progressed to play for Switzerland’s senior side.

Things didn’t pan out the way the right-back would have liked to when he joined Newcastle from Servette as an 18-year-old. Recurrent injuries stalled his progress in England; however, Mbabu has managed to resurrect his career with Young Boys.

Although Young Boys failed to qualify from the Champions League group-stages that included team like Juventus, Manchester United and Valencia this season, the 23-year-old still caught the eye.

Mbabu is a right-back by trade but he is equally comfortable playing on the left and would offer competition for Newcastle’s current full-backs. The Swiss operates with a lot of pace and intensity down the right and is someone who can put in dangerous crosses in the box.

A tireless worker off the ball and composed in possession during testing situations as well, he will undoubtedly bolster Benitez’s full-back options at the Tyneside-based club.

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Verdict

Hence, it would make sense for Newcastle re-sign Mbabu this summer as he could turn out to be a real asset under Benitez’s expert guidance, despite failing to win the Spanish manager’s trust a couple of years ago.