Newcastle United’s early season promise has petered out as the Magpies find themselves just 2 points above the relegation zone. 2 victories in the last 4 games provided some respite for Rafa Benitez’s men but their troubles in front of goal have been very prominent. With just 20 goals scored in 22 Premier League games, and their strikers Joselu and Dwight Gayle notching up just 6 goals between them this season in the league, it’s a no-brainer that Benitez is looking to reinforce his striking department.
Daniel Sturridge was a name linked to the Magpies, in a move that seemed to make sense for all involved, with the English striker out of Klopp’s first team plans, and the World Cup looming large. Sturridge has struggled to get first team action and a switch to a Premier League team would make complete sense. However, despite Newcastle’s interest, it appears Sturridge’s wage demands would be a major stumbling block in the negotiations. Newcastle’s highest earner is Jonjo Shelvey on a reported 80,000 pounds a week, and Sturridge earns around 125,000 pounds a week. According to Chronicle Live, this issue has scuppered any potential deal for Sturridge.
Therefore, Benitez must look for further options to strengthen his striking force to keep The Toons afloat in the Premier League. Let’s take a look at 3 other options for the Spaniard.
Danny Ings (Liverpool):
Another striker currently at Liverpool and in desperate need to get first team action to kickstart his career, a loan move to Tyneside might just be what the 25-year-old needs. A very promising young player, Ings had horrible luck with injuries, with cruciate ligament injuries hampering his growth at Merseyside.
It’s been 2 years since Ings started a Premier League game, with just 17 minutes of first team action under his belt this season, coming in the League Cup loss to Leicester City. However, since his return to fitness, Ings has looked superb for the U23s, most notably in his 4 goal haul vs Bristol. A clinical finisher who is willing to run the channels and doesn’t shy away from his defensive duties, Ings is just the sort of player Benitez needs to help the likes of Gayle and Joselu up front and look sharper in front of goal.
Anthony Modeste (Tianjun Quanjian):
An unlikely move, yet one that must be taken into consideration, Modeste would be a superb addition to Newcastle’s frontline. The French forward made a surprise move to Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian where he’s enjoyed a fine season so far with 7 goals and 3 assists in 8 games. But his numbers in Germany for FC Koln were more impressive, scoring 40 times in 68 games. A strong aerial presence, with good hold-up play and excellent finishing, Modeste would immediately improve the Magpies’ attack massively. A move is still an extremely long shot, though.
Bas Dost (Sporting CP):
The Dutch forward would be another excellent option for the Magpies boss to look at. After a poor season at Wolfsburg, Dost has found his rhythm at Sporting Lisbon, scoring 34 goals in 30 league games. This season he’s been equally prolific, scoring 16 times in 17 games in the league, adding another 2 in 3 starts in the Champions League. He’s a typical centre-forward, with excellent hold-up, finishing and aerial strength. At 28, this could be his final chance to prove his worth in arguably the toughest league in the world, and his qualities are sure to bolster Newcastle’s strikeforce.
