Newcastle United adequately pleased the football fraternity last season as they carved an immediate return back to the Premier League after spending a season in the Championship. The Magpies, under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez, won their promotion in a grand style by clinching the English second division silverware. However, after finding their feet in the top flight once again, the Toon have started to feel the heat and animosity and have failed to chisel an appealing start.
Losses against Tottenham Hotspur and Huddersfield Town were testaments of the loopholes which still exist in Benitez’s ranks. One of the weaknesses which have been evident is the lack of a cutting-edge up front. The Geordies have failed to find the back of the net so far in their first two league outings and it goes without saying that the former Napoli boss has to do something to sort the same before the curtain of the summer transfer window falls.
Apparently, one of the latest reports suggested that Newcastle United are aiming to bring West Ham United’s attacker Andy Carroll on loan to St. James’ Park this summer. Carroll was signed on a permanent transfer from Liverpool by the Hammers in 2013’s summer transfer window after a successful loan spell.
However, owing to his injuries and sporadic run of form, the 28-year-old has failed to make a substantial impact for the Irons after his permanent move and Slaven Bilic is keen to farm out the striker.
Bilic wants to get rid of him and tried to sell him during the January transfer window. However, Carroll’s move back to Newcastle United could be seen as an emotional one as well as a desperate one, as the dearth of quality strikers isn’t unknown.
The English international is a player who has piled truckloads of experience under his belt and offers plenty of good attributes too. He is sound and dominating in the air, gets into physical battles and is pleasantly clinical to bang goals when he is on song.
Nonetheless, Benitez would be opting to go into a baptism of fire by making someone like Carroll, who is infamous of remaining sidelined due to injuries, sign above the dotted line. Further, Newcastle United are also attempting to rope in Arsenal’s prodigal son Jack Wilshere on loan, and just like Carroll, Wilshere is also prone to injuries. Although these two names will create a buzz if lured to Benitez’s ranks, their fitness issues and erratic form are needed to be vouched as well.
