According to reports in the Evening Standard, Newcastle United are one of four Premier League teams targeting a move for Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs, but they are stumbling over his £15m price tag.

Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is keen to sign a new left-back this summer to provide competition for Paul Dummett and along with Watford, Stoke City and fellow newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion, he is keen on the 27-year-old.

Gibbs is surplus to requirements at the Emirates following the signing of Sead Kolasinac from Schalke earlier this week, and will look to move on and secure regular first team football wherever his next destination may be.

However, with his contract due to expire this summer Benitez doesn’t feel he is worth £15m, and the Spaniard is likely to try and negotiate with Arsene Wenger to try and bring the fee down to a fairer amount.

Here are three reasons Newcastle must see off their rivals in the race to sign Gibbs…

Experience and quality

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Newcastle were relegated to the Championship just over a year ago because they didn’t have enough Premier League experience or quality in their team, and Rafa Benitez will know that he needs to make sure they don’t suffer the same fate next season.

The Spaniard will know that he needs to bring in some players that are proven in the top flight, and that is certainly the case with Gibbs who even captained the Gunners on occasi0ns this term.

The 27-year-old has made a total of 137 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and 230 in all competitions – as well as amassing 10 caps for England – and you don’t achieve that unless you are of a certain ability.

Versatility

While Gibbs would almost certainly be the first choice left-back if he was to move to St James’ Park, Rafa Benitez will also be well aware at the versatility of the 27-year-old.

On many occasions over the last two seasons especially, the England international has played ahead of Nacho Monreal in a more attacking left-sided position, while he has also played there in the 3-4-2-1 formation that Arsene Wenger so successfully deployed in the closing stages of the campaign.

That ability to play and perform well in more than one position could mean that he is a shrewd addition this summer.

Point to prove

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Should he depart Arsenal in the coming weeks, not only would Gibbs have a point to prove to Arsene Wenger that he was good enough to be a regular starter for the Gunners, but he will also want to put in consistent performances for England manager Gareth Southgate.

The 27-year-old was overlooked from the latest Three Lions squad despite the absence of Danny Rose through injury – with Ryan Bertrand and Aaron Cresswell preferred – and he will know that he is running out of time to force himself into contention to be in the squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia next summer.

Do you agree, Newcastle fans? Let us know below.