Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers are just two of six clubs reportedly chasing Juventus utility man Mauricio Isla this summer. The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Loftus Road and Tuttosport are reporting that QPR, Newcastle, Real Sociedad, Real Valladolid, Real Sociedad and Borussia Monchengladbach are all tracking the 64-cap Chilean international. Isla, who mainly operates as a right-back but can also play in a more advanced role as a winger-back or even a winger when necessary, made 27 Premier League appearances for QPR last season as they were relegated to the Championship as the top division's bottom club. Yet the Magpies have been linked with the 5ft 10in utility man on several occasions in the past, including last summer, and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Isla could move to Tyneside - particularly as his versatility is a commodity Newcastle like to have in their ranks. Having starred at the 2007 South American Youth Championship and then the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in the same year, Udinese brought Isla to Europe from Universidad Catolica. After scoring six goals in 127 Serie A matches for Udinese, Juventus moved for Isla in 2012 - but he has failed to score in 29 league appearances for the Italian champions since. In addition, the two-time Serie A and double Supercoppa Italiana winner has also netted three times in 64 Chile caps. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
