Daily Mail’s Craig Hope revealed his personal favorite options for Newcastle United in three key transfer positions: goalkeeper, center-back, and right wing, each of which the club is expected to strengthen this summer.
At goalkeeper, Hope backed Burnley’s James Trafford as the standout option.
“I like his confidence. I like his kicking. I like his agility. I like his young, English profile,” Hope wrote. “He’ll succeed Jordan Pickford as England’s No 1, I believe. I like him a lot!”
At center-back, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi remains Hope’s pick after last summer’s pursuit.
“Having watched him for England, I think Guehi has some weaknesses that need to be worked on. Aerially, especially,” Hope wrote. “But where better to improve than under Eddie Howe?
”He reads the game so well. He can bring the ball out of defence and pass through the lines. If the price did not go much beyond £40m, I think he’d be a smart buy.”
In the right-wing role, Hope strongly favors Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who has also drawn interest from Manchester United and is closer to joining the Red Devils than signing with the Magpies, by the looks of it.
“I love Cunha as a player. Him versus Bryan Mbeumo? Cunha every time, for me,” Hope wrote. “His ceiling is far higher. He’s got swagger, class and goals. For me, he screams Newcastle United.”
While Hope noted some concerns about Cunha’s discipline, he added, “I’m told from folk who know that he’s a sound character and is highly intelligent.”