Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Burnley’s promising England under-20 international Dwight McNeil in a national newspaper.
The 19-year-old has been earning rave reviews in his breakthrough season at Turf Moor, with his introduction into the side coinciding with Burnley moving away from relegation trouble.
And a report in the Daily Star by experienced North East correspondent Ian Murtagh claims United have dispatched scouts to Lancashire to run the rule over McNeil. Two other players are also linked in the piece – Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser, who was touted as a potential target last week, and David Brooks, the Wales midfielder who has enjoyed a fantastic campaign at Dean Court.
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Whether United could hope of prising Brooks, who looks destined for the very top, away from Bournemouth is unclear. But any move for a player as important as that would require a phenomenal outlay and Newcastle – while they have money available to spend – aren’t looking at transfer fees in that ballpark this summer.
McNeil is also being watched by Everton, Manchester City and Arsenal and Burnley will feel no desperation to sell him given he signed a deal to take him through to 2023 at the turn of the year.
Benitez has begun work on plans for next year despite his own future being up in the air. As reported by ChronicleLive yesterday, Benitez has not yet received the assurances he’s looking for but both parties are keen on moving forward. Effectively securing survival on Friday should at least enable both sides to plan with a bit more certainty.
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