A major update has emerged regarding Newcastle United‘s pursuit of Australian youngster Garang Kuol ahead of the January transfer window…
What’s the talk?
According to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie, the Magpies are on the verge of signing the 18-year-old to be their first arrival at the start of 2023.
Downie tweeted: “Newcastle are close to finalising a deal to sign Garang Kuol from @CCMariners. The forward made his Australia debut last week, aged 18. #NUFC are exploring ways of overcoming any work permit issues – including a potential loan to a European club if they can get a deal done.”
The journalist added: “Newcastle are making it a priority to scout the global transfer market to try & sign some of the best young players in the world. Rookie Kuol has a chance of going to the World Cup in Qatar. Borussia Dortmund have also shown interest but #NUFC are close.”
Heir to the throne
Callum Wilson’s persistent injury issues throughout his time at St James’ Park so far are a cause for concern, and bringing in a player who could eventually replace him is a shrewd move by the club.
Since joining from Bournemouth in 2020, the Englishman has missed 42 competitive matches in seven different spells due to injury, often leaving Newcastle light in Premier League and cup games.
The striker is not reliable enough over the course of a full season, as Eddie Howe is not able to trust that the 30-year-old will be available for a large chunk of the campaign.
Kuol could now come in with a view to him being the eventual heir to Wilson’s place in the squad, competing with Alexander Isak for a place in the XI or playing alongside the Sweden international.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described the Australian youngster as a “wonderkid” and listed the striker as being ‘very strong’ in terms of pace, finishing, off-the-ball movement, agility, acceleration and instinct.
This provides an insight into the type of player that he is and suggests that he could be an ideal heir to Wilson, who excels at racing onto through balls and playing off the shoulder of the last man, using some of the aforementioned qualities that Kuol has.
The 18-year-old has scored four goals and provided one assist in 10 first-team matches for Central Coast Mariners since breaking into the senior setup and recently earned his first cap for Australia at international level.
Kuol is a promising young talent, as evidenced by these statistics, Kulig’s analysis of him and Newcastle’s interest, and he has the potential to become a core member of Howe’s squad in the future if he can translate that form into the Premier League as he gains more experience.
Downie has stated that a loan move to a European club is on the cards for the 18-year-old for the second half of the season, and his performances in that time could go a long way to revealing whether or not he has what it takes to be Wilson’s heir at St James’ Park.
