Newcastle United may still sign another striker before the end of the summer transfer window.
That is according to Keith Downie of Sky Sports, who was speaking to This is Futbol about the latest at St James’ Park, ahead of the final few weeks of the transfer window.
It has been no secret this summer that Eddie Howe is looking to add another striker to his squad, with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood being the only out-and-out number nines at his disposal as it stands.
Reims’ Hugo Ekitike (who has now moved on loan to Paris Saint-Germain), and Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak are just two of the strikers that have been linked with a move to St James’ Park this summer, with the club looking to bolster that centre-forward spot.
And Downie believes that the Magpies will sign a striker before the window shuts on 1st September.
Speaking prior to the start of the Premier League campaign, he said: “I still think they’ll get one [striker].
“I think they really need to get someone else in, I just don’t think it’d be right going into the season, now that they’ve lost Dwight Gayle as well, to go into the season with just Wilson and Wood.
“I think Wilson obviously showed up great towards the end of the season, but we all know he’s had his injury problems, and I think if he was to pick up another injury, to leave yourself just with Chris Wood would be causing yourself a real problem, so I think they will bring someone in.”
TIF Thoughts on Downie’s comments…
We believe that Newcastle fans will be delighted that Downie believes that the club are still likely to sign a striker in this window.
Although Wilson has generally been a consistent performer for the club and scored in the Magpies’ 2-0 opening-day Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, he has suffered problematic injury issues during his time on Tyneside, whilst Chris Wood could only score two goals in 17 appearances for Newcastle last season, according to Transfermarkt.
Therefore, we believe that PIF should be desperately scouring the market to provide Howe with another striker option before the window shuts in September.
And given the noises that seem to be coming out of the club in recent weeks, a new centre-forward does indeed appear to be something that will happen as we near the deadline.