Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has been speaking all things transfer-related live on air – and Newcastle United were one of the main talking points.
The Toon have been linked with a potential move for striker Hugo Ekitike this month, with their goalscoring issues being added to by Callum Wilson’s latest injury.
Do NUFC need more than one striker this month?
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And the reporter has claimed the Toon are not just looking for a single addition up top this month, with Newcastle keen on bringing in two strikers in January.
Sheth believes the Tyneside club are aiming to bring in one young prospect at striker and then a more experienced addition, with the younger talent believed to be Ekitike of Stade Reims.
The more experienced recruit would later turn out to be Burnley striker Chris Wood, who is currently undergoing a medical at St. James’ Park.
With Wilson injured, Dwight Gayle is the only other recognised striker at Newcastle – with Joelinton now playing a deeper role – and his recent goalscoring record is far from inspiring.
And discussing the possible arrivals at St. James’ Park, Sheth had the following to say on Monday evening:
“The plan is at Newcastle to get another signing in and available to play in that looks like a huge game now against Watford over the weekend.
“Now, one contact has said that they want not one but two strikers. One other contact has said one of those strikers would be an experienced one, another striker would be one that they look to for in the future. And it looks like the one that they’re looking for in the future, looks like there’s some movement on that one. His name is Hugo Ekitike, and he’s from Reims.
“I’ve been told that that interest has now gone on to talks between the clubs. So is Ekitike the player that they hopefully can bring in, in time for that game against Watford over the weekend?”
TIF Thoughts on Dharmesh Sheth’s comments…
We think it is absolutely essential the Toon are able to add to their firepower up top this month with Wilson’s injuries occurring too regularly to count on him throughout a full league campaign.
The young French striker has made an impressive start to the 2021/22 campaign for Reims, with 11 goal involvements in his 17 Ligue 1 appearances (via Transfermarkt).
However, this is his first season of playing in the French top flight, so it could be seen as a big risk to take in putting your Premier League status on the shoulders of a 19-year-old.
This may explain the swift pursuit of Wood ahead of the weekend’s clash with Watford, and we feel Ekitike would have to be supported by another senior striker to take some of the pressure off him with the huge stakes at risk in the second half of the campaign if he was to make the move to Tyneside.
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