Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing some more additions before the transfer period closes this month and Stoke City’s Joselu remains of keen interest to Rafael Benitez as he seeks a new striker for his squad. However, the Potters are unwilling to let their forward leave as they had to just part with Marko Arnautovic who moved to West Ham United.
Benitez hasn’t been on a roll this summer with the club unable to tie down their top priorities. Despite having more lure and money than the other two clubs that got promoted along with them, the Magpies don’t seem to have done any better business comparatively. Although they have managed to get in five players, most of them have been panic buys and consequently not quality signings.
Newcastle have brought in French centre-half Florian Lejeune from SD Eibar, Spanish full-back Javier Manquillo from Atletico Madrid, midfielder Mikel Merino from Borussia Dortmund on loan and English winger Jacob Murphy from Norwich City.
Benitez has also made Christian Atsu’s signing permanent from defending Premier League champions Chelsea, and he is perhaps the best buy Newcastle could have this summer.
Despite having some quality players up front, who have done brilliantly last season in the Championship, Benitez still doesn’t have a reliable proven talent in the attacking third. In the likes Dwight Gayle and Aleksandr Mitrovic, Benitez has more out and out strikers who are hardly versatile.
While 27-year-old Joselu isn’t much of a wide forward either, he will fit in well in Benitez’s attacking third and more essentially give the Spaniard a plan B. Joselu at 192cm, has quite the height and strength to cope with Premier League’s pressures up front and Benitez could get tremendous help in his supporting role in throwing his forwards on the counter.
In Jonjo Shelvey, the Spaniard possesses a sharp passer, who can pick players up from the deep midfield and having Joselu available up front could solve one of his biggest concerns for next season: scoring goals. An academy product of Celta de Vigo, the Stuttgart-born player has played for Real Madrid, TSG Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City and Deportivo la Coruna so far in his career.
The Potters had bought him from Bundesliga side Hannover 96 back in 2015 and had sent him on loan last season following a quiet debut campaign. Joselu has played in some of the best leagues in Europe and could be a valuable addition to any side, and with Stoke City already having Saido Berahino, Peter Crouch and Mame Diouf, a move away from the club seems to be his best choice. But is he the right man for Newcastle?
