Newcastle United are believed to be eyeing a transfer for Stuttgart defender, Borna Sosa, albeit with the Croatia worldwide additionally attracting curiosity from one other Premier League membership.
What’s the phrase?
In keeping with Croatian outlet Index, the Magpies are set to try to gazump West Ham United within the race to land the 24-year-old, with the northeast aspect ready to position a better supply than that of the Hammers to be able to get a deal finished.
The report suggests the east London outfit have been in talks relating to a transfer for the 6 foot 2 full-back, with David Moyes seemingly ready to pay round €20m (£17m) to land the six-cap star.
As for these at St James’ Park, this reported curiosity would counsel that the Tynesiders are on the hunt for an additional left-back addition, regardless of having already signed Matt Targett on a everlasting deal from Aston Villa, following his promising mortgage spell on the membership final season.
Howe’s personal Andy Robertson
It’s unsurprising that the previous Dinamo Zagreb man is attracting such intense curiosity, such has been his glowing type in Germany of late, with Sosa notably netting one purpose and offering eight assists within the Bundesliga final time period, whereas additionally averaging a formidable 2.2 key passes per recreation from his 28 outings – with that latter metric considerably larger than that of the aforementioned Targett (1.2) from the 2021/22 marketing campaign.
Clearly a forward-thinking and artistic expertise, the £20.7m-rated man poses an actual menace from his left-back/left wing-back berth, notably having been dubbed a “crossing machine” by journalist Ronan Murphy.
The statistics seemingly again up that declare as he ranked fourth within the German top-flight final time period for crosses from open play, with 107 to his title, having completed second within the standings for a similar metric the yr prior (128), behind solely the Juventus-bound Filip Kostic.
In that regard, the £15k-per-week ace – who has registered three targets and 23 assists in 83 video games for his present aspect – seemingly mirrors that of Liverpool sensation Andy Robertson, with the Scotland skipper additionally a notable menace from the flanks.
The rampaging full-back ranked fourth within the Premier League final season for crosses made with 195, having beforehand completed behind solely teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold for whole crosses the yr prior, registering 294 for the Reds.
There may be seemingly a transparent comparability to be made between Sosa and Robertson, with the pair sharing quite a few statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.
Within the case of the Stuttgart man, he ranks within the high 5% for each progressive passes and progressive carries amongst his friends in Europe’s high 5 leagues, whereas it’s a remarkably comparable story with the previous Hull Metropolis star, as he ranks within the high 3% and the highest 10% for a similar two metrics, respectively.
That reality little doubt illustrates how each males undertake a front-foot attacking method at left-back, showcasing their brilliance at getting their aspect into extra superior positions both as a ball-carrier or with an incisive, ahead move.
Such likeness will pique the curiosity of these at St James’ Park, such has been Robertson’s breathtaking type at Anfield of late, the 28-year-old, who pundit Kevin Phillips dubbed the “greatest on the earth”, having registered 49 assists in his top-flight profession to this point – a file solely bettered by former Everton man Leighton Baines (53) amongst defenders within the competitors’s historical past.
Ought to Sosa be capable to replicate such feats, then Howe and co might effectively be in for an actual deal with.
