Journalist Chris Waugh has claimed on the latest episode of Pod on the Tyne that Newcastle United are set to make a change in their pursuit of a striker this summer.
Newcastle have seen themselves linked with several striker options to add depth and competition to that department ahead of the upcoming season, with the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen being tipped with a move to Tyneside.
However, all three are said to have massive price tags on their heads, which has put off the Magpies from pursuing those targets much further than initial enquiries, and now they may well be altering the way they target a striker this summer.
Waugh believes that Newcastle will be looking to sign a young striker instead of one that’s older and more proven.
He said: “Newcastle sort of make enquiries about Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Ivan Toney or players like that and find ridiculously high fees coming back, and they think about all the other things that they need to do in this summer window and then maybe take a step back and think ‘well, if we can get a younger striker, someone who can grow with the club, or someone on loan while we think about what we want to do a bit longer-term, that may be the answer’.
Will Newcastle sign a new striker?
Yes!
No!
“And that seems to have been the conclusion they’ve came to, because when Wilson’s fit, he scores goals, but he also brings so much more; the team just looks transformed in attack when he’s there.”
TIF Thoughts on Newcastle’s striker search…
Given Newcastle have already splurged over £50m on transfers this summer, it’s no surprise that the Magpies are now looking towards youthful players or even loan deals to ensure they don’t exceed any Financial Fair Play regulations.
They have been linked with a move for Hugo Ekitike this summer and had a deal agreed with Reims, only for his agent to become difficult during the negotiations, which saw a deal called off and forced PIF to search for a different attacker.
So while they have been unable to add to their strikeforce so far, at least Waugh’s comments suggest that Newcastle are willing to be flexible in their approach, as they may have consigned themselves to a dead end all summer in terms of seeking the perfect transfer target without an alternative strategy.