Newcastle United Transfers: 8 Players Benitez Must Sign This Summer
5. Sam Larsson
2016-17 was a breakthrough campaign for Heerenveen's Sam Larsson. The winger's excellent club form saw him make his international debut for Sweden in November, and he finished the season with 9 goals and 12 assists from 36 appearances on the left flank.
Newcastle are crying out for another winger. Christian Atsu is a livewire, but best suited to an impact sub role, Rolando Aarons' fitness can't be trusted, and while Yoan Gouffran could still sign a new deal, he has never looked like an effective Premier League wideman. Ideally, Rafa Benitez will be looking for a left-sided player who can match Matt Ritchie's production on the right, and Larsson fits the bill.
Like the energetic Scotsman, Larsson works best as an inverted winger who cuts inside to open defences up, before playing a killer ball or taking a shot on goal. He's very comfortable bombing down the wing and delivering crosses too, making him a three-dimensional player who can operate in a number of different roles. There's been no talk of a move away from the Eredivisie this summer, but Larsson seems to have the skills and workrate required to make it in in England.