By support

25th Mar, 2017 | 1:15pm

Benitez confirms Newcastle keeping tabs on goalscorer ahead of summer window

By Matt Farr

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed that he is closely monitoring the progress of Siem de Jong ahead of the summer transfer window.

De Jong is currently on loan at Dutch outfit PSV until the end of the season, but is still on the books at Newcastle and could return to the club in the summer.

The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour at St. James’ Park following his £6million move in 2014, having been hampered by injuries throughout his stay in Tyneside.

But Benitez refused to rule out a potential return for the goalscorer next season, with the club on the look out for a new striker ahead of their potential return to the Premier League.

The Newcastle chief had admitted that he was closely monitoring de Jong’s performances in Holland, and would decide upon his long-term future with the club at the end of the campaign.

When asked about the future of de Jong, he told the Chronicle: “We are following all the players on loan, we try to watch their games and keep in touch with them regularly.

“We will decide what is the best for us and them at the end of the season, but I’m happy to see him doing well of course.”

The attacking-midfielder has scored seven goals from his 21 appearances for PSV this season, appearing a much different figure to the one that failed to net a single goal from his 18 Premier League matches for Newcastle last term.

De Jong will largely be remembered by Newcastle fans among a long line of recent transfer flops, but he could be handed an opportunity to redeem himself if Benitez chooses to welcome him back to the club this summer.

In other Newcastle news, former Sunderland chairman Sir Bob Murray claims this ex-Magpies star tried to engineer a move to the Black Cats.

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