Journalist Andrew Musgrove believes that signing a striker is more important than bringing a right-winger to Newcastle United.
Newcastle were the biggest spenders in Europe in January and you would be forgiven for thinking that the newly-backed Magpies would splash the cash again this summer.
However, the Toon have shown that they won’t needlessly overspend, having walked away from a deal for Hugo Ekitike due to agent demands despite agreeing a £33m fee.
Although, that has left them with just Chris Wood and Callum Wilson at centre-forward, with Sky Sports News reporter Keith Downie admitting that the club are finding their search for a striker a struggle.
Meanwhile, with the centre of midfield, the right wing and a striker thought to be their three remaining targets, they are trying to make inroads on James Maddison, but have thus far had two bids rejected.
Now, Musgrove is growing concerned over the fact that the club haven’t got their priorities straightened out.
Speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast, he said: “The fact that the right-winger quite clearly seems to be Newcastle’s top priority with the players they are being linked to.
“Obviously, we don’t get to see what goes on on the training ground, and the people making the decisions are much more experienced than us in professional football, and they will know what they want.
“But just looking at it, for me, you have Ryan Fraser, you have Jacob Murphy and you have Miguel Almiron, and we were talking last week about the levels.
“Now, James Maddison clearly is better, in my view, than [Jack] Harrison, I haven’t seen enough of [Moussa] Diaby to make a comparison, but I do think he would be an improvement on the three that I’ve just mentioned. But, if you don’t get Maddison in, I don’t think it’s the end of the world. If we don’t get another right-winger in, it’s not the end of the world.
“What, for me, would be a blow is if you are starting the season or the window closes with just Wood and Wilson. That, to me, is worse than not getting a right-winger.”
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Despite half the game time, Wilson (8) scored three more goals than Wood (5) last season.
The New Zealand international joined from Burnley for £25m back in January but failed to prove a consistent source of goals for the side, scoring twice in 17 Premier League appearances for the north-east club.
Coupling those woes with Wilson’s problems keeping fit, not finding a striker will surely be a major worry for Eddie Howe, and it is clear to see why Musgrove believes it should be top of the club’s agenda when it comes to their next arrival.