da aposte e ganhe： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
da bet vitoria： According to Football Insider, Newcastle sent scouts to keep an eye on QPR left-back Ryan Manning in the R’s 2-0 defeat to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Magpies are keeping tabs on the Irish full-back ahead of the January transfer window, with a view to making a move for the impressive Manning, who could be available for a cut-price fee this winter.
The 23-year-old’s contract at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium expires next summer, and the aforementioned report states that the former Rotherham man could be available for a sum between £2m-£3m.
If Newcastle can secure his services for a fee as small as £2m-£3m there is no doubt it will be considered a shrewd piece of business.
QPR do have the option to extend his deal by 12 months, something that the Londoners might need to do in order to resist Premier League advances this January – Southampton are also believed to be interested in Manning.
Would fit Steve Bruce’s wing-back system perfectly
If Newcastle can get this deal over the line, Manning would be an ideal fit for Bruce’s preferred system.
The former Sunderland manager has set his side up with wing-backs in the majority of this season’s games – in fact, every game except for the 5-0 loss to Leicester has seen wing-backs involved in either a three-man or five-man backline.
Coincidentally, this is a system that Manning is well accustomed to as R’s boss Mark Warburton has also used wing-backs on five occasions so far this season.
One game in particular – a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday – saw Manning take to the role like a duck to water, and his impressive individual statistics from the campaign so far emphatically emphasise his attack-minded nature – a trait needed for a wing-back.
Manning has scored two goals and recorded three assists and has played every minute of the season so far, while also making 2.2 key passes per game and drawing 2.5 fouls per game in the Championship.
If Manning did end up on Tyneside, he would be a ready-made option for Bruce’s system.