OPINION
As if Newcastle United fans haven’t suffered enough.
It has been a long window for the Toon faithful, with little or no transfer activity and no movement on a new contract for Rafael Benitez.
There had been hope this week that a top-class addition or two might be close amid a blizzard of reports that the club are working on deals to sign the likes of Alassane Plea, Kenedy, Andros Townsend and company.
Sky Sports claimed in a transfer update on their website on Thursday afternoon that the north-east giants “remain in talks” to land Plea.
The broadcaster are as reliable as any outlet around but a report emanating from Germany by the excellent Kicker magazine must be taken extremely seriously.
The outlet claim Plea is in fact close to completing a transfer to Borussia Mochengladbach.
It is said the Nice striker has reached an agreement in principle to join the Bundesliga outfit after settling personal terms and the two clubs are now close to sealing a fee and the terms of payment.
It is a major blow to Newcastle fans, who are desperate for their club to sign a centre-forward worthy of the name.
Plea scored 21 goals from 49 matches in all competitions for Nice last season and has emerged as a target for a number of Premier League clubs looking to land a regular scorer from a major European league.
It will not be long before the finger of blame is pointed by the Toon faith in their tens of thousands at Mike Ashley, the hugely unpopular owner whose cautious transfer market approach infuriates supporters.
The failure to land Plea will be regarded by many as Peak Ashley, another decent player for whom the groundwork has been laid but who has bitten the transfer dust.