Newcastle United are set to sign Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez for £50million.
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Nico Gonzalez is a “strange” signing for Newcastle United.
And in a bizarre assessment, the former Aston Villa man suggested that Manchester City’s willingness to sell the Spaniard should concern the Magpies. Newcastle are on the brink of making Gonzalez their seventh summer signing.
The 24-year-old is on Tyneside, completing a medical and the final formalities before securing a £50million move. Toon chiefs - and supporters - widely view Gonzalez as a statement signing.
‘Not having him’ - Gabby Agbonlahor
However, the arrival has not satisfied everyone’s taste. Speaking on talkSPORT, ex-Villa striker Agbonlahor claimed there must be “a reason” why Man City are cashing in.
“(I’m) not having him,” he said. “I’m not having him one bit. He didn’t play much in his Manchester City career. If you’re losing Rodri, he’s the one player you’d want to keep if he was any good. Everyone watched him. I’m not having him at all.
Man City, you’re losing Rodri and have no other defensive midfielder. Gonzalez has been there a season, you’d keep him. There’s a reason why Man City don’t want him.
“The new players Pep Guardiola brought in, (Omar) Marmoush, Savinho, (Tijjani) Reijnders… (Enzo) Maresca has got rid of. Whenever I watch Gonzalez, I’ve not been impressed. Newcastle are paying £50million - but if a strange one. It’s a good deal for Man City to get him off the books.”
Nico Gonzalez = statement signing
As mentioned, Gonzalez’s arrival is viewed as a coup at St James’ Park. The Spaniard was keen to stay and fight for his place under Maresca.
A major rebuild saw Rodri and Bernardo Silva leave the club earlier this summer. But Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and possibly Enzo Fernandez are set to launch the new era - pushing Gonzalez down the pecking order.
He will now get the chance to shine as a key Premier League performer on Tyneside. Gonzalez will become Newcastle’s seventh summer signing - with a forward player target in the final days of the window.