Newcastle United may be struggling to find any rhythm this season but Rafa Benitez is convinced that his side can avoid the drop this season and is already looking for players who can improve the squad for the next season. This has seen the manager scout for some exciting names recently and he is expected to spend big in the upcoming transfer window.
Lack of goals from the strikers has been a problem for the Magpies recently and Rafa is eager to add a natural goal scorer to his side this summer. While a number of star players have been linked with a move to the club, one player, who is already on their books but impressing elsewhere is Serbian international Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Having scored a brace for the national team against Nigeria recently, Mitrovic is currently out on loan at Fulham. He was a crucial part of the Newcastle squad that earned promotion from the Championship last season but has failed to impress Rafa this season and was sent out on loan to Fulham on deadline day in January, after failing to make a single start in the top flight.
However, he has immediately become a crucial member of the squad and now has seven goals in just seven starts at Craven Cottage. He is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment for Slavisa Jakanovic at the moment and will be critical to the club’s chances of promotion this season.
However, he is only out on a loan and is contracted with Newcastle United till 2020. So should Rafa give him another chance at St James’ next season?
An exciting player even for the neutrals, Mitrovic is a gifted finisher with decent dribbling and passing abilities. He is adept at hold up play and is a decent target man and is perfect for the English game. He can drop deep when needed but is at his best playing on the shoulder of the final defender and though has failed in the top flight, has shown in his time at Fulham, that he is ready for the biggest test.
The Magpies have Joselu as the only outright striker in the squad at the moment with Dwight Gayle acting as a backup. Ayoze Perez has been used in a slightly withdrawn role and Rafa definitely needs a striker this summer.
He was not impressed with Mitrovic earlier in the season but he cannot ignore what he is doing in the Championship and should definitely give him another shot in the first team at Newcastle United.
