Newcastle have opened talks with Sevilla winger Diego Perotti (above, right) over a possible switch to St James' Park as we look set to say goodbye to a posse of wide men this summer. A report in the Journal this morning claims that negotiations are already underway with Perotti and the Magpies can pick up two-cap Argentina international for a bargain £3.5 million fee after he fell out of favour in Spain and was loaned to Boca Juniors at the start of 2014. The 25-year-old has been troubled by calf and muscle injuries in recent years meaning Newcastle would be taking a chance on a player that boasts experience of playing in the Champions League and Europa League. But we're no strangers to signing players with a questionable injury record, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Dan Gosling are the most recent examples, and at a reduced price Perotti would pose a minimal risk to Mike Ashley's frugal financial blueprint. And the right-footed left-winger would represent excellent value for money for us if he were to rediscover the form that earned him international recognition, albeit the 75 minutes he has accumulated for Argentina are spread across two games. One league goal and 26 starts in three years won't exactly get our pulses racing and given his fitness issue it doesn't take a genius to work out the reason as to why Sevilla are actively attempting to get him off the books. But with Hatem Ben Arfa, Jonas Gutierrez, Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan expected to be sold during pre-season we're desperate for new blood in the wide areas and Perotti is a viable, low budget option in the current climate.
