OPINION
Rafa Benitez has been open in his appraisal of Newcastle United’s transfer needs this January, and has identified a player with creative flair as an absolute must for the Magpies.
The Toon Army were on the wrong end of a 4-0 hammering from Liverpool on Boxing Day, and rarely looked like threatening the league leaders.
The result came in the aftermath of a disappointing stalemate with Fulham at St. James’ Park last weekend.
If Newcastle are to stay up they will need goals, and with Salomon Rondon up front, if they can find the right man to provide quality deliveries from out wide, they will have a study source of strikes for sure.
Kenedy has been below par this season, while Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy have shown little to suggest that they are worthy replacements.
Tottenham are reportedly looking to offload Georges-Kevin N’Koudou this January, according to the Daily Mail, and Benitez should throw as much as he can into bringing the Frenchman to Tyneside.
The 23-year-old has pace to burn and impressed during a spell with Burnley last season.
He has yet to appear in the Premier League for Spurs this campaign and could be available on a cut-price deal, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side look to free up funds to invest in a title challenge.
A former French youth international with an abundance of talent, he is waiting for the right opportunity to prove himself in English football, and going to Newcastle, where he would be regarded as a star man, could be exactly the deal needed for both player and club.