Rafa Benitez signed Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid in 2017 for PS4.5M

Since Eddie Howe took over at Newcastle, Manquillo has had very limited playing time

Former manager Rafa Benitez is interested in reuniting with Manquillo at Celta Vigo

Javier Manquillo was signed by Rafa Benitez from Atletico Madrid in 2017 for a fee of around PS4.5M. He initially performed well as a fullback for Newcastle but since the arrival of Eddie Howe in November 2021, he has seen minimal game time.

Manquillo has only appeared six times over the last two seasons and hasn't made any appearances this season under Eddie Howe's management. It is reported that former Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, who is now at Celta Vigo, is keen on bringing him to the club this month.

There are talks about offloading fringe players like Manquillo to make room in the wage budget and it seems like a sensible move for both clubs involved. With his contract set to expire at the end of June, it appears likely that some kind of deal can be agreed upon with a low transfer fee.

Celta Viga currently sits in 16th place out of 20 clubs in LaLiga and could benefit from adding an experienced player like Manquilllo to their squad. During his time at Newcastle, he played 110 games and showed professionalism on and off the pitch despite limited opportunities under Eddie Howe's leadership.

Overall, it looks like a decent deal for all parties involved allowing Javier Manguillio more playing opportunities while reducing wages from Newcastle's bill.