- Newcastle United are reportedly interested in Arthur Atta
- Udinese midfielder available for around €30m
- Why he could be a well-priced option for the Magpies
Newcastle United are reportedly one of the clubs interested in bringing Udinese midfielder Arthur Atta to the Premier League following an excellent season in Serie A.
Brighton and Bournemouth are reportedly challenging the Magpies for Atta’s signature. Each of the interested Premier League parties are thought to have tabled initial €30m offers to Udinese.
Newcastle will likely need to invest in the central area this summer, with Sandro Tonali looking increasingly likely to leave the club if a suitable bid comes in.
The Magpies have already been linked with bigger money options like Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Club Brugge’s Aleksandar Stankovic.
Arthur Atta a Newcastle target
Newcastle United have had an exceedingly poor season, missing out on European football entirely. That is expected to be a hindrance to their player pull throughout the transfer window.
That would likely be the case in any deal for Atta, too, with Brighton and Bournemouth both offering European chances.
At 23 years old, Atta will likely favour his next step being into the spotlight of European football, especially considering the quality of his performances this season.
Atta has a rather unconventional profile. His size would, in theory, lend him to the more defensive side of the game, but he instead possesses an exceptional level of athleticism and technical ability.
His explosive ball-carrying abilities allow him to often break lines with his dribbling and run beyond the opposition’s midfield press, getting into forward areas and looking to create chances.
Atta’s deceptive agility and running strength allow him to cover high volumes of ground and make him very difficult to dispossess.
He could use some development in the defensive areas at present, which Newcastle would have to bear in mind, but he could be an excellent replacement for someone like Joe Willock, who is thought to be leaving the club this summer.
Newcastle’s summer window
The midfield area will be an area of focus this summer for the Magpies. There are thought to be a couple of departures on the horizon in that area, and there will likely be scope for a starter and a more rotational option to come in.
If the club were to sign Atta, the likelihood is that he would fill the latter of those two openings with a more established and well-rounded option favoured to replace Sandro Tonali, should he depart.
The upside to Atta is that he is still very much a player on the rise, and playing for Udinese, who are always on the lookout to raise funds, the price tag marks a rather modest one in the modern market.
