OPINION
There will not be a Newcastle United fan around who will not agree that the club need some additional firepower up front after their slow start to the season – but who the club can find to fill the void is another question entirely.
With Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic heading out the St James’ Park exit door this summer, it has left Joselu and new signings Salomon Rondon and Yoshinori Muto to lead the line in the early stages of this campaign – albeit it to little success.
The six goals scored by the Magpies in the Premier League is among the lowest in the Premier League and it is clear something needs to change, be it personnel or tactics, to ignite their attack.
As such, they need to be scouting out new talent to step into the breach at St James’ Park, and they could do a lot worse than Red Star Belgrade striker Richmond Boakye.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a bright last season for the Serbian side, netting 15 league goals in just 14 appearances before heading out to China with Jiangsu Suning, where he struggled to replicate the same sort of form, and it ended with him returning to Red Star in August.
He has rediscovered his best form again, with three goals in as many league games, as well as two assists, and it seems as though his red hot streak is earning him suitors from the Premier League, with the striker confirming his plans to move to England.
He told SportsWorldGhana: “I think is the dream of most of the players to play in England but I think this season my move to England is going to happen. I’m not going to give details but it will surely happen before January,”
”In two – three months it will happen, it’s not that I am going to hope for , it will happen. I am not willing to say this team or that but I am ready to play for any of the premiership teams because you can see the English Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world.”
While Boakye might not be willing to reveal who is chasing his capture, Newcastle can have St James’ Park bouncing should they seal his signing, using the electric striker to ignite a toothless forward line.
The Magpies have had mixed fortunes of the January window, with the success of Papiss Cisse balanced by the failure of Islam Slimani, but considering his goal scoring record, the 25-year-old could become a firm favourite of the Toon Army if he fires them to safety.