Newcastle must not sell 20m Mitrovic to Fulham

OPINION

Newcastle United must keep Aleksandar Mitrovic unless they can find a viable alternative to the Serbian enigma.

Team Talk have reported that Mitrovic has told Newcastle he won’t play for them again and is adamant they must let him move to Fulham, who wont pay more than £20 million.

The talented, yet inconsistent 23-year-old is always one of the hottest topics on Newcastle fans lips, whether it is for good or bad.

But in a market as inflated as this one, the Toon must ignore his ultimatum and hold on to a player they reportedly value at £30million unless they can find a suitable replacement.

Despite Newcastle’s brilliant 10th place finish last season under Rafa Benitez, their lack of quality upfront was a clear and apparent weakness.

Dwight Gayle and Joselu toiled up top – scoring six and four goals respectively – while Mitrovic thrived, bagging 12 goals in 18 Championship games after moving on loan to the Cottagers in January.

If what has been reported is true and Fulham wont pay over £20million for the Serb, Newcastle should not sell him; especially not to a Premier League rival.

In this market, £20million simply does not guarantee a striker that will score goals, and at 23, Mitrovic has time on his side.

He is proving on the international stage for Serbia he has the quality to succeed.

If Benitez can repair his seemingly fractured relationship with Mitrovic, Newcastle and it’s fans could already have the striker they so desperately crave.