Newcastle United are preparing to enter the striker market again this summer, less than a year after investing nearly £125 million in the position.
That’s correct. The Magpies’ brass fell just one million short of reaching that figure, ponying up gaudy amounts of money to bring Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa to Tyneside last year. We all know the results, though, and we all know something has to be done to fix the precarious situation up front.
The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope has an answer and is reporting
that Eddie Howe’s team selection for Tuesday’s Champions League draw with Barcelona drew attention and pointed toward the inevitable.
“Howe’s decision not to start with either of those buys, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, for Tuesday’s Champions League tie at home to Barcelona raised eyebrows in some quarters, and the pair did not get off the bench during the 1-1 draw,” Hope wrote. “It should, then, come as no surprise that the club are working on identifying a new striker to bring in this summer, and it remains to be seen what that means for the futures of Woltemade and Wissa.”
Hope also confirmed that the expected recruiting of a new, bonafide, goal-scoring striker is already underway.
“Various names have been circling in scouting and agent circles in recent days,” Hope wrote, noting that Simon Jones has already linked Tottenham forward Dominic Solanke to his former manager at Bournemouth in a potential reunion.
Inter Milan’s Pio Esposito has also been watched, but Hope stated that “the feeling right now is that his asking price would be beyond their financial range,” referencing reports that Inter rejected a £42 million offer for the 20-year-old.
Liam Delap is another player mentioned, with Hope indicating that Newcastle wanted to sign him before he joined Chelsea.
“For now, Newcastle are exploring other options in what is a difficult position to recruit,” Hope wrote.
