According to reports, Newcastle United are interested in signing Aleksandar Mitrovic following what has been a record-breaking campaign.
Mitrovic has performed wonders for Fulham in the Championship this term, breaking the second tier’s goalscoring record with 41 strikes in 41 matches so far. Fulham have already been promoted back to the top flight, but Mitrovic could be on the move to a rival.
It is thought the Magpies, along with Arsenal, are eyeing a move for the Serbia international.
But what would this mean for Newcastle? We take a look at a couple of potential consequences.
End of Chris Wood?
Following the Private Investment Fund’s Newcastle takeover, the Toon splashed the cash during the January transfer window, and Wood was one of the five new faces to make the move to St James’ Park. Newcastle parted with £25m to sign the New Zealand international, and 49 Premier League goals for Burnley were proof he can perform at the highest level.
However, he has managed just two goals in 14 matches for his new club, and at 30 years of age, he is hardly one for the future. He never appeared to be a long-term signing and it may even have been that the main reason for capturing his services was to harm one of Newcastle’s relegation rivals. Should Mitrovic return to the north-east, Wood could well be left out in the cold.
Chance to prove Benitez wrong
Mitrovic has already spent time at Newcastle, of course. He spent three years at the club between 2015 and 2018 after impressing in Belgium with Anderlecht, but could only manage 17 goals in 72 matches for the club. Ultimately, he was sold to Fulham, and when Benitez was asked why he decided not to keep him, he said the striker did not suit his style of play.
Would you like to sign Mitrovic?
Yes
No
Rafael Benitez is now a distant memory at St James’ Park and Newcastle remain without a reliable centre-forward – Joelinton and Dwight Gayle, amongst others, have not done the business consistently.
Albeit in the second tier, Mitrovic is currently in the midst of the best form of his career, and at 27, he has plenty of football left in him. 11 goals in 37 games during Fulham’s last Premier League campaign was a sign he had got used to the highest level and he now has a chance to show Benitez just how wrong he was.
TIF Verdict…
You can certainly see the logic of going after Mitrovic. He knows the club, has previously played in the Premier League, and his goal record speaks for itself.
For himself, though, the former Partizan Belgrade ace should perhaps stay put. He appears settled under Marco Silva, and with top-tier football already secured for next season, he can already think about translating his Championship form to goals against the best in the country. More upheaval would hardly be the best thing now that he has found some momentum.