OPINION
Newcastle United cannot afford to take a gamble this January on Paris FC striker Silas Wamangituka.
The Tyneside club are one of a host of teams keeping tabs on the 19-year-old, according to Telefoot.
The youngster has broken into the Ligue 2 side’s starting lineup this season, and has registered four goals in 13 appearances.
It is understood that the Magpies have been jetting out to France to scout the Congolese teenager in recent weeks in a series of transfer missions.
The Toon Army would likely face competition from Olympiakos, Fiorentina and Schalke, as well as Championship side Nottingham Forest, if they were to push ahead with a bid.
Rafa Benitez must recognise the risk a move would represent, however, and decide against making an offer.
Without a doubt, Wamangituka has bags of potential, and is already making good on the first team opportunities he has been given, but right now Newcastle need a proven goalscorer if they want to stay in the Premier League.
The prodigy remains an exciting prospect, but the Toon Army cannot realistically take a chance on a player with four senior goals to his name in the French second division.
If the club was in a better place financially then perhaps they could afford to bring him in with on eye on the future, but funds are going to be tight enough this winter without splashing the cash on players who may or may not make an impact in the next five years.
Benitez needs to steer clear of this one.