Hours after putting four past Sydney FC in their second friendly of the season - an emotional affair thanks to a pre-game dedication to lost fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney - Newcastle have been linked with a spectacular coup to add a seventh summer signing to the rejuvenated squad. The same day that it was confirmed that French misfit Sylvain Marveaux has joined Guingamp on loan for the coming season, Twitter lit up with speculation that Newcastle were about to do business with another famous black and white side across Europe, in Juventus. The suggested capture would be of versatile right-sided player Mauricio Isla, who reports in Chile are suggesting is on the verge of a move to Tyneside after the two clubs made an agreement for his services. That report suggests a deal for around £7.6m. Isla - who can play at full-back, on the wing or in central midfield - has only played 25 times in the league for Juventus in the past two seasons since moving from Udinese, and would bring welcome versatility to the Newcastle squad who are short on cover and competition for the right-side. Alan Pardew has just added Daryl Janmaat to the squad, as the expected first choice replacement for Mathieu Debuchy, but Isla's versatility is such that he could play ahead of Janmaat in midfield, and would defend from higher up the pitch, which might be necessary given the new attacking bent in the team after the signings of Remy Cabella and Siem De Jong. That might also suggest that Moussa Sissoko might be pushed back into the middle rather than as a winger, perhaps as a partner to the more defensively minded Cheick Tiote, giving Newcastle four very different centre-midfield options (with Anita and Colback in there vying for a starting position). Newcastle continue to be linked with moves for a striker to join new boy Emmanuel Riviere - who was among the scorers against Sydney on his debut - as well as for a bid for Frenchman Clement Grenier. But as usual, if Newcastle were to sign every player they've been linked with, they'd head into the season with a squad of about 500 players. Are you happy with this link to Mauricio Isla? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread below.
