Newcastle Transfer News: Paul Dummett Linked With Stoke City?
Would Rafa really let the defender leave?
Stoke City are weighing up a move for Newcastle United defender Paul Dummett, according to the Chronicle.
They claim Potters manager Mark Hughes has identified the 25-year-old left sided defender as a summer target to bolster Stoke's squad ahead of next season's campaign as they aim to better their 13th finishing place.
Graduating from Newcastle's youth academy, Dummett has been the club's recognised left-back since Alan Pardew lost faith in Davide Santon and he was shipped back to Italy in January 2015. Despite never looking completely comfortable in the position (or in possession of the ball in general, for that matter), Dummett's hard-work and a serious lack of competition that understudy's Massadio Haidara and Achraf Lazaar weren't providing has seen him start the majority of United's games over the past two seasons.
Magpies boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with moves for a left-back in this transfer window with frequent mentions of Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs making the rounds, though with Haidara and Lazaar expected to be offloaded in the coming weeks, it's not certain Rafa would want to sell Dummett, who is still under a long term contract and would likely require a sizable asking price.