‘A top player’ - Newcastle United ‘relentlessly’ scouting 20 y/o wonderkid who can solve winger crisis
Paul Mitchell has sent Newcastle United scouts to watch Burnley winger Luca Koleosho, according to reports.
Few had heard of the 20-year-old a month ago but he has quickly become one of the Championship’s most promising stars. Signed from Espanyol last year, Koleosho was a bit-part player under Vincent Kompany last season.
However, relegation from the Premier League has given the winger, who can represent the United States, Canada or Italy at international level, a golden opportunity. His winner at Leeds United 10 days ago earned rave reviews from Clarets boss Scott Parker.
“It’s a brilliant finish,” the former Newcastle captain said. “Not many can go and run 60 or 70 yards up the pitch at full pace and have the calmness to execute the finish like he did.
“I’m expecting him to make a massive impact (in this league). This is a top player. He needs refining for sure and there’s a lot of work to be done. But he’s still a young boy, he only really had half a season last year and you can see elements to his game.
“He’s the last on the training field at times, always wanting to do extra. He’s got certain attributes and qualities that we’ve seen against Leeds, where he was deadly.
“He will be massive for us this year, he will be a real threat for us. We will keep working with him and that will help as well.”
Capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, Koleosho has predominantly been used on the right this season. That is an area Eddie Howe has struggled to nail down his best position, with Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes giving him a dilemma on the left.
HITC claim Newcastle have extensively scouted the wonderkid in the opening weeks of the season. With five years left on his contract, Burnley are in no desperate need to sell but know they may be helpless to repel Premier League interest.