Former Newcastle player Lee Clarke has backed the club to go after loanee Valentino Lazaro in the summer.
Within the former player’s column within Tribal Football, he discussed a number of things from Allan Saint-Maximin’s ability to whether or not he expects Harry Kane to surpass Alan Shearer’s goal record.
However, given the reports in recent days suggesting that Inter Milan are confident that the Magpies will snap up Lazaro for a fee of £21.5m, his words on the Austrian international are probably the most pertinent.
The currently unemployed manager has is of the belief that Lazaro has looked a much better player when the Toon have been playing with a four-man defence, as it allows him to pay higher up the pitch as a winger.
Would you sign Valentino Lazaro for £21.5m?
Nope, we can do better
Yes, would be a great deal
Haven't seen enough yet
This is what he wrote about the former Hertha Berlin player: “When Valentino Lazaro first came into the team, Steve Bruce was still playing with a 3-4-3 system.
“But since then the formation has changed to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, and when he’s had his opportunities higher up the pitch, Lazaro has been another player who has looked exciting, with plenty of pace to go past players.
“Newcastle do have pace in the wide areas, with players who can go past fullbacks and enjoy attacking them.
“They’re not going to beat them all the time, but they have the positivity to have a go.
“Since the change of formation Lazaro hasn’t started a lot of games, but he has come on and certainly made an impact and contribution to the results they’ve got.
“It’s all up in the air if we’re going to play any more games this season, but if he gets those opportunities, I think there is certainly a player there that would be a good addition for next season to the group of players that are already there, without a doubt.”
If the reports are true about United signing the player for £21.5m, then Inter would have made a £7m profit on the player, according to the Shields Gazette.
Despite only playing 11 games for the Nerazzurri, the player could still represent good value for that money, especially considering he is just 24 and can play anywhere down the right flank, catering to whatever formation Steve Bruce wishes to play.