Mixed fortunes for
CHRIS WAUGH LOOKS AT THE SIX STRIKERS UNITED MISSED OUT ON IN THE SUMMER, AND HOW THEY’VE PERFORMED
NEWCASTLE United’s lack of firepower is dominating the discussion on Tyneside at the moment.
In 11 Premier League matches so far this season, the Magpies have only scored on 10 occasions.
Their frontline strikers have just four goals between them, and that’s if you class Ayoze Perez as a forward.
Joselu was the only striker signed during the summer, and he has netted twice in 10 appearances, while last season’s leading marksmen Dwight Gayle is yet to break his duck this term in nine games, and Perez has the one strike too.
Meanwhile, Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored once during his two Newcastle substitute appearances, though he netted for Serbia against China yesterday.
Rafa Benitez believes he was left short of a genuine top-level striker at the end of the last window, despite sounding out a number of targets.
Here, NUFC Writer Chris Waugh assesses how six strikers United missed out on over the summer have performed for their respective clubs so far this season. THE 20-year-old was one of Benitez’s four priority targets for the summer window, alongside Willy Caballero, Florian Lejeune and Mikel Merino – the two latter of who he managed to bring to Tyneside.
Yet, despite believing he had all-but convinced Abraham to join Newcastle on loan from Chelsea, the forward instead move to Swansea City.
In 14 appearances in all competitions so far this season, Abraham has scored four goals and provided an assist in a struggling Swans side.
His performances have been so impressive that the forward even received his first senior England call-up for the current international break and started against Germany
last night for his England debut. ANOTHER player who Benitez targeted on loan during the latter part of the summer window, the Newcastle manager is a longtime admirer of the Spanish forward.
Despite publicly admitting his desire to sign Perez, the 29-year-old instead secured his dream move back to boyhood club Deportivo La Coruna on loan.
Having initially struggled for fitness, Perez has started to find form in recent weeks and has scored four goals in his last six outings in all competitions for Deportivo. HE always appeared to be an ambitious target, but Benitez was genuinely confident that he could convince Jovetic to join United from Inter Milan – as long as the Newcastle board committed to finance the deal.
Unfortunately, Benitez – who also attempted to sign Jovetic when he was Liverpool manager – missed out on the Montenegrin forward once again, who instead joined Ligue 1 champions Monaco.
The 28-year-old’s move to the Principality has been far from an overwhelming success, with the ex-Manchester City forward starting just three games in all competitions this term, given Radamel Falcao’s prolific current form.
Jovetic has only one goal in six games for his new club and is reportedly unsettled, with Southampton said to be among his suitors.
Perhaps Newcastle could look to snap him up mid-season too if their budget allows. AS soon as it became obvious Liverpool were contemplating loaning out the Belgian for the season, Newcastle made their interest clear.
The 22-year-old is the perfect fit for Benitez’s 4-2-3-1 formation due to his workrate, pace and physicality – but it was Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg who won the race for the coveted forward.
And, despite Wolfsburg’s league struggles this season, Origi has proven to be a shrewd loan signing for the German club.
In 10 appearances in all competitions, Origi has scored four times – and, should his current form continue, then he looks likely to secure a spot in the Belgium World Cup squad for Russia next year. THE ludicrous sums being touted for the Dutchman always made it highly unlikely he would arrive at St James’ Park, but Newcastle do hold a long-standing interest in Dost.
It is understandable why too, given that the 28-year-old has scored 170 goals in 335 club career appearance so far.
A target-man forward, the former Wolfsburg forward would have offered a contrast to the strikers Newcastle currently have at their disposal.
Into his second season at Sporting Lisbon, Dost has scored an impressive nine goals in 11 leagues games so far this term – though he is yet to find the back of the net in four Champions League matches. THE 25-year-old has had rotten luck with injuries over the last three seasons and has only made 12 appearances for Liverpool since joining the Reds back during the summer of 2015.
And, given his lack of gametime over the past couple of years, Newcastle enquired about Ings’ availability on loan during the summer – as well as that of Origi – but were rebuffed.
However, given that the England international has made only a solitary appearance in the Carabao Cup this season and is yet to score, the Magpies are hopeful a deal could potentially be struck in January to take the former Burnley man on loan for the second half of the season.