Newcastle line up Arsenal defender raid after major development – report
By Harry Sykes
Newcastle are lining up a summer raid for Arsenal young gun Kristopher Da Graca, according to a report.
The Sun claim the Magpies boss is keen to take the Swedish teenager, who plays predominantly in the centre of defence, initially on trial to properly assess him ahead of a possible transfer.
It is said that there has already been a major development in the future of Da Graca as Arsenal have already decided that the versatile defender can find a new club.
The 19-year-old has made the step up from the club’s Under-18s to Under-23s this season but has only made seven appearances in Premier League 2 for the development side.
It now appears that Da Graca’s time at Arsenal is coming to an end.
The Sweden Under-19 international, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has only started two Premier League 2 matches since September and has not even made the squad for the last three fixtures.
Newcastle have had a policy in recent years of snapping up emerging players and then selling them on for a profit years later after they have developed.
The link to Da Graca comes on the back of an underwhelming January transfer window in which the club did not sign a single player.
Rafael Benitez’s side were strongly linked to Andros Townsend in the final week of January but were unable to agree a deal with Crystal Palace.
In other Newcastle news, Benitez is ready to quit Newcastle because he could not sign these two players in January.
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