NEWCASTLE UNITED are ready to move on Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero if Napoli’s demands are excessive for priority goalkeeper target Pepe Reina.
The Magpies already know they can pay what Reina would demand in terms of a wage, with a deal in the region of £65,000-a-week thought to be on the cards.
But Newcastle are not prepared to go overboard on a fee for a 34-year-old whose own contract at Napoli only has 12 months left to run.
The Naples club are thought to be seeking between £4-5m to let him go and such a fee would be seen as too high at St James’ Park, considering his age and depreciating value.
A salary of more than £3m over the term of the contract he would sign at Newcastle also makes him an expensive option, particularly when there are other experienced goalkeepers out there available for less.
Caballero is one of those. The Argentine is set to become a free agent after agreeing to leave Manchester City at the end of this month, and he boasts plenty of Premier League experience.
Even though he was signed mainly as back-up to Joe Hart and Claudio Bravo, the 35-year-old has played plenty of times during his three years at the Etihad and appeared in the Champions League and cups too.
Benitez is waiting to hear what the outcome of Reina’s discussions with Napoli crop up this weekend before deciding whether to make a more serious move for Caballero.
At the right price Reina is still very much the preferred option. He is exactly what Benitez wants from a goalkeeper, with excellent distribution and good shot stopping ability.
The pure fact that Caballero is also under consideration, though, highlights the Newcastle manager’s desire to strengthen in that area of the squad.
Even though he has Rob Elliot, Karl Darlow and Matz Sels in the ranks, as well as highly-rated youngster Freddie Woodman, Benitez clearly feels they need greater experience in that role. Tim Krul is also due back but is available for transfer.
Newcastle are busy working on deals in a number of areas of the squad and Chelsea teenager Tammy Abraham looks certain to be with them when they return for pre-season training in early July.
The 19-year-old was targeted as soon as the season finished because Newcastle were aware of Brighton’s interest after his impressive season on loan at Bristol City,
But Newcastle have got an agreement in place with the Blues that will see him head to Tyneside to compete for a shirt, with Benitez hoping to see the player shine like he did to hit 23 goals last season in the second tier.
Bolstering the defence is also high in Benitez’s thinking. The Northern Echo has already revealed how he is targeting Eibar’s Florian Lejeune, while they are also believed to be keen on Sporting’s Ruben Semedo.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is giving Benitez the cash to spend after promotion to the Premier League but he is keen to stick within the club’s policy of, largely, buying players with potential to offer value for money.
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