Unlike Newcastle United’s last summer transfer window, when the newly relegated side with Rafael Benitez at the helm held a lot of weight over other Championship teams, owing to their stature and financial prowess, the Magpies will experience a totally different scenario this term.
Picking up exciting prospects will not be easy as there will always be some other top Premier League side keeping tabs on them who hold a greater lure than them and Benitez’ task of convincing his targets is likely to see more failure. However, this hasn’t stopped the club from going after some of the highly-rated names in Europe at the moment and reportedly, the latest to join the list is Sandro Ramirez.
The 21-year-old Malaga forward has attracted huge interest from Premier League sides with Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool, namely being the prime suitors apart from Newcastle United. Hence, it goes without saying that Newcastle United will face a stiff competition in landing him.
And what makes it all the more difficult for Benitez will be the crisis of a proper centre-forward in English top-flight football. Both Liverpool and Tottenham have struggled hugely for their lack of quality on the bench, devoid of players who can step up when things get rough, while Everton, themselves, are in danger of missing out on their star striker, Romelu Lukaku this summer.
Newcastle have enjoyed a rather decent goal scoring season from both of their forwards, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic. However, Championship strikers failing to make any impact in the Premier League whatsoever is not a new phenomenon with Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede and Jordan Rhodes being the latest examples.
And Ramirez will undoubtedly be a level up for the Magpies. The La Liga centre-forward is immensely versatile across the attacking third and can play on both the flanks. He has played 29 times in the Spanish league so far, where he has managed 14 goals and five assists.
A youth product of Las Palmas, Ramirez was impressive enough for Barca’s famed La Masia academy to pick him in 2009. He continued his development there, breaking into the senior sides with ease. But, Barca’s star-studded line-up had little place for him and he was released last summer.
However, this hasn’t stopped the player from continuing his fierce form in front of goal. Touted by many as the next David Villa, Ramirez is known for his intelligent movements on and off the ball. His sharp nose for goal makes him a hugely productive asset and will be an invaluable addition to whichever Premier League side he joins.
