Newcastle United are reportedly willing to allow playmaker Santiago Munoz to depart in the near future, with the young Mexican having failed to make an impact at the club thus far.
What’s the word?
According to Record (via Sports Witness), the 20-year-old is nearing an exit from the Magpies in December, with the Premier League side unlikely to take up their option to buy for the player at the end of his 18-month loan stint.
The 5 foot 10 starlet – who arrived in England on a temporary deal last summer – is seemingly set to return to parent club Santos Laguna once his loan deal comes to an end, with the report suggesting that the Mexican outfit are already ‘expecting’ his return.
Hasn’t worked out
The youngster’s arrival on Tyneside had initially caught the attention due to his apparent likeness to the central character of Hollywood blockbuster ‘Goal’ – Santiago Munez – although, unlike his fictional compatriot, it has been no fairytale for Munoz at St James’ Park in recent times.
Despite having spent almost a year with the northeast side, the midfielder has yet to make a senior first-team appearance for the club thus far, having been restricted to a role in Newcastle’s U21 set-up in recent times.
While he was part of Eddie Howe’s pre-season plans, that involvement has not translated into a more prominent role in the Englishman’s squad so far this term, with fellow prospect Elliot Anderson no doubt firmly ahead in the pecking order.
Did Munoz deserve a bigger chance?
Tipped to be a potential “revelation” for the Magpies by Steve Howey upon joining the club, the £1.35m-rated dud has gone on to become something of a forgotten figure of late, with a regular berth in the senior set-up having never seemed on the cards.
The Texas-born prospect had previously made a bright start to his career back in his homeland, having scored three goals and provided three assists in just 19 appearances for his parent club, although has been unable to build upon that form in what has likely been a frustrating period for all concerned of late.
Although there may well be a talent in there somewhere just waiting to be unleashed, it would appear that young Munoz is in need of pastures new if he is to realise his early potential, while for Newcastle it would seemingly make little sense to persist with a player who appears surplus to requirements at present.
