Keith Gillespie has claimed there will only be big spending at Newcastle in the January window if the proposed takeover is completed.
Gillespie, who made 129 appearances for the Magpies over three-year spell in the nineties, claimed that if Newcastle fail to sign a goalscoring striker in January then they risk relegation.
Rafa Benitez’s side have struggled in front of goal this season, scoring just 10 in their opening 11 Premier League games.
The club’s top scorers are captain Jamaal Lascelles, a centre-back, and summer signing Joselu, who have two apiece.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Gillespie said: “There’s no real creativity in the team. When they played Burnley, as soon as they scored people thought that was it. They need a creative player, someone to score more goals, in January.
“They need someone who is proven and who will score goals. If you can get a striker in who scores 25 goals then it just about guarantees you will stay in the Premier League. I don’t really see anyone in that squad who will get into double figures, never mind 25.”
Gillespie continued, voicing his hope for a quick takeover after Mike Ashley put the club up for sale.
“If there is a takeover, you hope that money becomes available but if Mike Ashley is still involved in January, that’s not going to happen. To compete, you have to spend those big transfer fees these days and if you don’t then you fall behind. When you don’t spend money, and spend it wisely, you get into relegation battles,” he said.
OPINION
It is clear to see that Newcastle have a big problem up front. Joselu, while the club’s joint-top scorer, is not firing, and Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez are struggling too. Aleksandar Mitrovic seems to be out in the cold, cementing their lack of goals up front. Benitez is reportedly keen to sign Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun, with the club said to be preparing a £13million bid for the Turkish international. As long as Amanda Staveley’s touted takeover happens before the January window, then Benitez will surely move to address this problem area.