Journalist, Pete O’Rourke has stated that Newcastle United would be ‘willing’ to sell Chris Wood, when speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol.
Wood joined the Magpies in January of this year, signing from Burnley for a fee of £25 million. The 31-year-old has six league goals across his past two seasons.
One report from Football Insider states that Leeds United are weighing up a January bid for the forward. The 31-year-old was previously at Leeds for a couple of years between 2015 to 2017.
When fit, the Magpies have Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson at their disposal. O’Rourke believes that because of this factor, Wood could be solid by the club.
He stated, “And it just seemed that he is now probably third-choice striker at Newcastle when everyone’s fit, so maybe Newcastle could be willing to let him move on as well.”
TIF’s view on O’Rourke’s comments…
We believe that a move away from Newcastle is unlikely for Wood in January, but could be sold in the summer window.
Wilson and Isak have both suffered injuries this season, so Eddie Howe may want to keep Wood around for the remainder of the season.
So perhaps when next season comes around, a lot of clubs could be keeping tabs on the striker.
Whilst the New Zealand international, who has been hailed as ‘exceptional’ in the past, hasn’t scored a ton of goals for Newcastle, the ones he’s got have been very important. Last season he netted against Southampton in a 2-1 victory and then a penalty in a 1-0 win against Wolves.
Wood would haunt the Saints once again in the 2022/23 campaign, netting in a 4-1 thumping at St Mary’s.
The forward picked up a knock whilst training with the club in Saudi Arabia. However, Howe stated ‘we hope it’s nothing serious’.