Newcastle United are one of several Premier League clubs eyeing a move for electric South American attacker Nicolas Gonzalez, although they need to act fast if they are to snap up a player with echoes of another top-flight forward from the continent.
On Friday, Italian outlet Calciomercato reported on the widespread transfer interest that the Fiorentina winger has garnered.
With Leicester City having already opened the bidding at €34m (£30m), as noted in the report, rumours earlier this week saw the Magpies also noted as an interested party. Therefore, a decision will need to be made by Dan Ashworth as to whether it is worth engaging in a bidding war over the Argentine…
With the likelihood of signing Gonzalez seemingly diminishing with each passing day, it would be a shame for PIF to allow such an exciting talent to slip through their fingers, especially when he is so similar to Liverpool‘s South American star Luis Diaz.
The comparisons extend towards their playing style, with both attackers boasting the sensational ability to beat opponents and deliver a ball into the penalty area. As such, the Fiorentina man has five goals already in just 12 games this term.
He seems poised to build upon his tally of eight goals and nine assists last season which helped fire his team to a seventh-place finish.
Cesc Fabregas previously showered the maestro‘s work rate with praise, saying: “Not everything is the ball and giving assists or scoring goals. Today was a day to work, fight and win. The number of kilometers that has been hit up and down helping in defence and high pressure it has been spectacular.”
Similarly, since moving to Anfield, Diaz has captured the imagination with his wide array of tricks. He has managed to convert this into tangible results, with seven goal contributions in his 13 Premier League games last season. He also ranks in the top 8% for dribbles completed when compared to other wingers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months.
Would you take Nicolas Gonzalez at Newcastle?
Yes
No
Gonzalez ranks in the top 13% for the same metric, which may suggest that he and Diaz are not dissimilar when it comes to their ability with the ball at their feet.
FBref adds to the legitimacy of this comparison by placing Diaz fifth in a list of stylistically similar players to the Fiorentina gem.
To acquire a player who’s capable of pure “magic“, as outlined by OptaPaolo, could be imperative in Newcastle maintaining their Champions League push.
If Gonzalez comes to Newcastle and turns out to be even half as impressive as Diaz has been at Liverpool, then the Argenine would surely be a success on Tyneside. However, PIF may need to move quickly, given the reports of Leicester’s transfer bid.
