Newcastle United must consider Kevin Phillips’ advice, after the former England striker suggested the Toon could look to sign Arsenal’s Rob Holding permanently.
Holding is expected to move to St. James’ Park on a season-long loan deal imminently, with talkSPORT reporting that the deal could be wrapped up by the end of the week after we reached an agreement with the Gunners.
Talks were held with Mikel Arteta’s side over the weekend despite Holding participating in Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Premier League champions Liverpool, with the imminent arrival of Brazilian Gabriel Magalhaes in north London expected to limit the 24-year-old’s game time.
Newcastle signing Holding on loan would see the club successfully win a wide-open race that featured an array of sides, and add a centre-half who has spent the past four years at Arsenal and enjoyed 39 Premier League outings alongside appearances in the Champions League, Europa League and the FA Cup.
Phillips is strong in his belief that Holding represents a ‘fantastic’ transfer for both the defender and ourselves.
“I think he would be a smart signing,” Phillips told Football Insider.
“I have seen him play very well but he has also been frustrating and made the odd mistake. He is still young, though, and given the pressures of playing for Arsenal you are going to make mistakes.
“It would be a fantastic move for him [to join Newcastle on loan]. He has a lot of Premier League experience and he has played for a big club in big games. That would be a very good signing.”
Phillips has suggested that Holding’s year on loan at St. James’ Park could have the potential to go further and become a permanent Toon addition, even though we are not expected to take hold of on an option-to-buy the 24-year-old from Arsenal.
“I think Arsenal would let him go [permanently] for the right price,” he added. “It would free up some funds for Arteta. I do not see Holding as a long-term Arsenal player. If they could get him out of the door for the right kind of money, then I think they probably would.”
Would you sign Holding permanently?
Yes
No
Holding would be in line for an immediate test in black and white should his rumoured loan deal go through as expected, as we will still be without captain Jamaal Lascelles when the 2020/21 campaign begins with the 26-year-old out after surgery on an ankle injury.
Steve Bruce could be expected to field Holding in the line-up regardless of Lascelles’ fitness, anyway, as the former England U21 international showed during Saturday’s Community Shield why we are courting his services with nine clearances, two interceptions, a tackle, five accurate long balls (62.5%), 61 touches, and two duels won, per SofaScore.
Should Holding slot into Bruce’s system comfortably and impress like he did at Wembley, Toon chiefs must consider Phillips’ advice and look to pursue a permanent transfer further down the line even if we do not take on an option to buy.