Newcastle ‘receive loan offers for Garang Kuol’ after impressing at the World Cup

Newcastle United have been flooded with loan offers for wonderkid Garang Kuol after the Australian impressed with the Socceroos at the World Cup, according to reports.

Kuol, 18, is set to join the Magpies in January after they agreed a £300,000 ($525,000) transfer with Central Coast Mariners earlier this year, with club chiefs adamant they have captured one of the world’s most exciting talents.

The attacker remained with the Mariners for the first half of the 2022/23 campaign but will officially move to St James’ Park next month, with club chiefs tasked with mapping out the 18-year-old’s next steps.

And the Toon have had no shortage of offers for the 18-year-old from clubs in England and across Europe, the Telegraph reports.

Kuol’s impressive performances at the World Cup, in which he was utilised as a substitute by coach Graham Arnold, has caught the eye of a number of clubs who are keen to help develop the youngster for Newcastle.

Manager Eddie Howe does not expect Kuol to be part of his first team plans in the short term, so the club is weighing up where is best for the 18-year-old to progress.

Clubs from the Championship and abroad have made enquiries for Kuol and there are a number of factors that Howe and technical director Dan Ashworth must consider.

The 18-year-old is set to join Newcastle in January and impressed in Australia’s World Cup run

Manager Eddie Howe now has the task of mapping out the attacker’s career with the Toon

There is a school of thought that Kuol will benefit from playing in England’s physically demanding second tier before being part of the first team squad in 2023/24. 

But the decision is further complicated by work permit restrictions. Kuol has made just a handful of appearances for the Mariners, meaning he could be refused a UK work permit. That could force Newcastle to send him to a country with more flexible conditions for foreign players.

As things stand, the Telegraph reports that the Magpies currently favour a move to either a Portuguese or German outfit for the first half of 2023, before sending Kuol on loan to a Championship club in 2023/24.

Upon Australia’s World Cup exit, Kuol was snapped wearing a Newcastle shirt as the squad touched down in Sydney, further endearing himself to fans of the Tyneside club.