Kieron: Joelinton a Dyer Toon signing
NEWCASTLE United should have targeted a move for Danny Ings last summer as opposed to signing Brazilian forward Joelinton.
That is the view of former United midfielder Kieron Dyer, who believes Joelinton ranks as one of the worst signings of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Magpies smashed their transfer record last July as they signed the Hoffenheim ace for £40million but he has largely struggled in front of goal this season.
The 23-year-old has scored just four times this season, only two of those coming in the Premier League, and has faced a lot of scrutiny over his ability to lead the line for Newcastle.
By contrast, Ings – who turned his loan stay at Southampton from Liverpool into a permanent move last summer for just shy of £20million – has taken the Premier League by storm this term, scoring 24 goals in all competitions with 21 of those coming in the league.
England boss Gareth Southgate is being urged to select the 28-year-old in his next England squad and Dyer, who played for Newcastle between 1999 and 2007, is at a loss as to why his former side did not try to sign him last summer.
“Danny Ings for me,” Dyer said when asked for his signing of the season.
“You just think: ‘What did Newcastle pay for Joelinton?’
“£40million? So when you are talking about the clubs at the bottom what they don’t have are goalscorers.
“To get Danny Ings for such a steal, who can score you 20 Premier League goals is an absolute bargain.
“He is the signing of the season for me.”