Newcastle told World Cup star that would be a great pickup after Victor Munoz hijack

Newcastle have been told to bounce back from missing out on Victor Munoz by hijacking another club’s transfer for a World Cup star.

The Magpies have been forced to pivot in the market after seeing their number one target complete a £34million switch to Liverpool.

Munoz will be plying his trade in the Premier League next campaign, but not with NewcastleGetty

Eddie Howe was hopeful of recruiting Osasuna star Munoz to replace Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona in a £70m deal last month.

However, Liverpool swooped in to trigger the Spanish international’s £34m release clause and have now unveiled the 22-year-old.

European football expert Andy Brassell believes the Toon could be a good landing spot for South Korea sensation Lee Kang-in.

The 25-year-old is expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after playing second fiddle to Luis Enrique‘s other attacking stars.

Lee, who has been linked with Atletico Madrid, has used the World Cup as a platform to put himself in the shop window with his nation.

On matchday one, he boasted a 100 per cent passing accuracy in the 2-1 win over the Czech Republic, while registering an assist.

Lee Kang-in transfer update

“Lee Kang-in could be a great pickup for a Premier League club this summer,” Brassell told talkSPORT.com.

“Now he’s been at PSG for the last couple of years and has only ever been really a bit-part player there, which I think is to undersell his talent a little bit if you describe him in those terms.

“You have to look at the players he’s competing with, both in midfield and in the wide positions, because Lee is someone who started as a winger but is someone who can play in the midfield three as well, so he’s very, very versatile.

Lee Kang-in has impressed for South Korea already this World CupAFP

“He’s a good dribbler,” Brassell continued. “He’s good on the ball, he doesn’t give the ball away much, he’s got an explosive finish, and he can find a pass for his teammates as well.

“But I feel at PSG his progress has been stunted a little because he’s someone who is sort of perceived as a jack-of-all-trades, master of none, because of that versatility, and that’s something that often happens to players who are quite versatile, of course, which I think is a real shame because you look at a player like him who is naturally very explosive and that was clearly the case when he came into the team at Valencia all those years ago where he wasn’t treated particularly well.

“They overlooked his talent even more than is the case at the moment and got rid of him.

“So he went and rebuilt himself at Mallorca, where he did very, very, very well.

“I just think, really, he’s at that age now, where he’s 25 years old. He needs a place where he’s going to play all the time or play the majority of the games, where he can really lean into his natural gifts.

“Now, for that reason, I wonder if Aston Villa wouldn’t be quite a decent fit for Lee Kang-in.”

Lee Kang-in was an unused substitute in the Champions League finalGetty

Lee Kang-in to Aston Villa?

Unai Emery‘s men were linked with a move for the two-time Champions League winner during the mid-point of last season.

“I think he’s got the quality to play there,” Brassell added.

“I think he’s got the quality to play most places, but that sort of explosiveness that works for them so well off the bench.

“Certainly with [Marco] Asensio and [Marcus] Rashford last time that they were in the Champions League, I think he’d go there and get plenty of games.

“And really, I think just as Villa had a good season in terms of making it back to the Champions League through the Premier League and, of course, winning the Europa League, I was there that night in Istanbul.

Rogers played a key role in Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph this seasonGetty

“I do feel that a lot of the creative burden still rests on Morgan Rogers.

“Jadon Sancho didn’t really work out for them despite a few good moments, and I just feel, even though Emi Buendia has sort of come back to a really good representation of himself, they just need that little extra bit of punch and directness in the final third, and I think Lee Kang-in could be it.

“I think the fact that he would enable you to switch up the lineup, that he would enable them to give John McGinn a rest when they want to, as well, because, like I said, he can play in three as well as wide. I think that would be quite a nice thing for them.

‘Newcastle are a good bet as well’

“But you know, maybe Newcastle are a good bet as well after they missed out on Victor Munoz, a slightly different sort of player, a more pure dribbler Munoz.

“But Lee is someone whom I like a lot, and I just want him to get to a place where he can play all the time, and I think he’ll really be able to impress his talent, impress his natural quality, and his industry.

“So look, I think PSG will move to sell this summer, but they probably need to do a little bit of clipping back from the squad to improve it.

“And just because you can’t get in the PSG first XI doesn’t mean you’re not a really good player.

“Lee Kang-in is a really good example of that, and I really hope he goes somewhere where he can make those talents count this summer.”