Southampton should offer Newcastle a swap deal including Manolo Gabbiadini to sign midfield ace Jonjo Shelvey.
What’s the word?
Gabbiadini has proven not to be a key part of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s plans at St Mary’s since the Austrian’s appointment.
Bar the final 15 minutes away to Cardiff, the Italian striker has not been included in a matchday squad, with Danny Ings, Shane Long, Michael Obafemi and Charlie Austin all preferred options.
Rather than continuing to pay the 6 foot 1 forward’s £80,000 a week contract, Saints could look to cash in on the £9million-rated striker by offering his services to Newcastle, who are short in attacking options.
Heading into the final fixtures of 2018, Rafa Benitez has called on Salomon Rondon, Joselu and Yoshinori Muto to lead the line at St James’ Park, with only the on-loan West Bromwich Albion forward netting more than twice with his poor hit rate of four in 13.
A loan move for Gabbiadini would be out of the question, with the north-east outfit maxed on domestic loan signings with Chelsea’s Kenedy joining Rondon, but Saints could look to capture Shelvey in any negotiations.
Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Playmaker FC…
Ralph Hasenhuttl would love Jonjo Shelvey
The £13.5million rated midfielder has featured for just 20 minutes in Newcastle’s past eight games, having started six in a row prior to his 51st minute substitution at home to Watford, because of injury, and he has been a big miss for the Toon Army.
During that period, the 26-year-old starred in defeats to Manchester United – assisting Muto’s tenth minute strike – and Brighton – Newcastle’s clear best player in both fixtures.
If Southampton were to sign the six-time England senior international, Hasenhuttl would have a deep-lying midfielder to adore, having worked wonders with a 3-4-2-1.
Shelvey’s ability to spread the ball from deep with pin-point long, key passes would allow him to act as a second Oriol Romeu, who has been a favourite so far under Hasenhuttl having been dropped by predecessor Mark Hughes.
The Romford-born ace would also prepare the club for a possible bid by Paris Saint-Germain for Mario Lemina, who has emerged on a shortlist to replace Adrien Rabiot.
Ki Sung-Yeung’s involvement in the Asian Cup for his native South Korea may hamper any negotiations, however, and could push any potential deal back until late January.