OPINION
Newcastle are still on the hunt for a striker who they can afford and who can deliver the goals Newcastle need to stay in the Premier League.
That’s easier said than done, given Rafa Benitez’s paltry budget, but his job could be about to get impossible.
Fulham have been reportedly close to buying Aleksandar Mitrovic off them in a £20million deal but the Chronicle reported that they wanted to pay in instalments which could have a huge impact on the money available for Benitez to buy with.
However, with that deal still not done, things could be about to get much, much worse for Newcastle, with a report in the Sun claiming that Fulham have now tabled a bid of £26million for Brazilian striker Willian Jose.
Fulham still want Mitrovic but are now waiting to see if their offer is accepted before deciding whether to push ahead with Jose.
It sounds like Fulham have Newcastle over a barrel. They’ve obviously got money to spend but want to get Mitrovic on hugely favourable terms.
Everyone knows that Benitez and Mitrovic don’t have a future together, but if Fulham pull out of the deal for the Serbian striker, it could have a disastrous knock-on effect on Newcastle’s summer window.
The news of the Jose bid must light a fire under director of football Lee Charnley and he must personally ensure the Mitrovic deal goes through and that Benitez gets the money straight away.
The alternative is really not good for Newcastle at all.