Aaron Stokes has backed Newcastle United to move for free agent Andrea Belotti while speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast.
Thus far in the summer transfer window, PIF and Eddie Howe have hit something of a brick wall when it comes to bringing in new faces to refresh the attacking department at Newcastle, with the likes of Moussa Diaby, Alexander Isak and Jack Harrison all being met with resistance by their current clubs.
This is despite Newcastle being perceived as one of the wealthiest clubs in England, so with the problem centring around the Magpies’ failure to match the quoted fees for targets on their shortlist, a move for someone without a club would seemingly make a lot of sense – which is what Stokes would like them to do with Belotti, who has been linked with a move to Tyneside.
Stokes believes that the Italian striker ‘would tick a lot of boxes’ for Newcastle and Howe.
He said: “Obviously, it was only a matter of time [before] Newcastle got linked with him – obviously he left Torino on a free. As I said on the pod last week, he’d be a fantastic addition. It would tick a lot of boxes.
Would you like Newcastle to sign Belotti?
Yes!
No!
“And obviously, we saw a report at the end of last week that his agent’s offering him to the likes of Newcastle, West Ham, Everton, so that’s definitely one to keep an eye on in the next couple of weeks.”
TIF Thoughts on Belotti…
It would make a lot of sense from numerous points of view if Newcastle did make a move for Belotti, as he wouldn’t command a fee, is a proven goalscorer with a track record of 106 goals in 270 Serie A games and would provide great competition and cover for Callum Wilson.
The Italian ‘warrior’ could also be seen as a stopgap – much like Chris Wood was perhaps perceived as in January – by bringing in an older, more experienced striker just in case Wilson gets injured. PIF and Dan Ashworth could then spend more time trying to nail down their top targets and work out how they can land them without forking out insane amounts of money.