Report: Newcastle Set to Complete Loan Move for Barreca

Reports from Sky Sports Italy are claiming that Monaco Left Back Antonio Barreca is due to join Newcastle on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to purchase for the rest of the summer.

A loan bid for the player was submitted last week, but it was understood that Barreca denied the opportunity to go to Newcastle because he believed he still had a chance to make the first team after Thierry Henry’s departure as manager.

Talks reopened with the left back after it was confirmed that he was not going to be in Monaco’s plans this season. Newcastle swiftly got a deal done, and the Italian left back should be announced soon.

Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has reported that the Italian will be arriving on a loan deal with the option to buy. The initial loan fee is reportedly €1millon (£872k), with the option to buy being €9million (£7.85m).

The Left Back has been described as technically gifted, fragile, with a strong left foot, but not comfortable in a back 4 by French Sports Journalists Mathieu Faure. Faure makes the claim that Barreca could even be deployed as a winger because he is so much better offensively than he is defensively. It is clear that Barreca has been brought in to provide Left Back cover for Dummett, and will likely see minutes as a Left Wing Back. His low defensive rating by Faure is concerning, as Newcastle usually play with a back 5 in games in which they are expected to defend well.

According to The Chronicle, both Almiron and Barreca are currently in Newcastle, having checked into hotels, and currently undergoing medicals.

Barreca has made 7 appearances for Monaco this season, and has 1 assist.