Inter Milan are fairly confident over securing Valentino Lazaro’s departure to Newcastle on a permanent basis, reports suggest.
According to Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, the Austrian international could be on the cusp of a £21.5m transfer to the Premier League, with United willing to sign him despite only making five appearances in black and white.
If these reports are true and the Magpies are going to sign him for that amount, it means Antonio Conte’s side would have made a chunky £7m profit on the player, according to the Shields Gazette, after playing just 11 times for the Nerazzurri.
Nevertheless, even if the player hasn’t made £7m’s worth of progress within that season, what’s important is whether or not he is good value for money at £21.5m – and that is quite hard to work out when he has played so few games in the Premier League.
Would you sign Valentino Lazaro for £21.5m?
Nope, we can do better
Yes, would be a great deal
Haven't seen enough yet
Looking at his performances so far, he has shown a hint of naivety and moments of brilliance, in a few positions. Against Crystal Palace he had a pretty decent game opposite Wilfried Zaha throughout while playing at right wing back, but it was the Ivorian international who had the last laugh after he brought him down in the final minute of the game and saw red for it.
On the flip side, when he was given a bit more freedom while playing on the wing against West Brom in the cup, he looked far more threatening and was even able to grab himself a goal.
His versatility makes him more valuable: Newcastle are in a stage of uncertainty about operating with a four or five-man defence, and his ability means he can do it all down the right-flank, meaning that he is very adaptable to changing to whatever Steve Bruce deems is the right way to play.
He is only 24, and it should also be noted that RB Leipzig – who were chasing the Bundesliga title before the coronavirus outbreak – were also very interested in signing him in January, proving that he has decent quality.
He might not have already shown the brilliance as many would expect for £21.5m, but within less than a year he has played in three different European leagues, so he is going to take a bit of time to adjust himself to all of their individual nuances.