How much for strikers who score?

RAFA BENITEZ had a sliding scale of price tags for modern-day strikers, and what they’d deliver.

“£5million? Can kick the ball forward,” he would say.

“£10m, can kick the ball towards the goal.

“£40m? Might, might, score you some goals...”

With Newcastle having spent £85m on a forward line in the past 11 months, £65m of that since Rafa (top) left the Toon hotseat, with so little return in terms of goals and assists – it might be time for the Spaniard to adjust his assessment for inflation.

Ahead of yesterday’s game against Bournemouth, Newcastle had seen precious little bang for their bucks.

Joelinton, their biggest buy at a headline figure of £40m, had managed one goal and one assist.

Miguel Almiron (above, middle), who cost £20m in January, had racked up 20 starts without a goal or assist.

Allain Saint-maximin, £25m, had made little tangible impact after an injury-hit start.

In Steve Bruce’s first season as manager, the club’s top-flight survival will be decided in large part by whether that trio deliver some value for the money.

Debates are had about whether to drop Joelinton or Almiron, but the big fees paid, coupled with precious few options, mean Bruce will persevere, and hope their luck changes.

There is also case for the defence of the expensive trio, beyond the stats. Joelinton (below, top) needs consistent service. He isn’t sulking, despite some lonely games grafting for scraps. He’s only missed one serious chance.

Almiron is a workhorse, scampering at speed, pestering defenders, and doing unnoticed work covering back and nicking possession.

SaintMaximin (left, bottom) is the wild card. He has the potential to run at speed from deep, break quickly and disrupt defences like no other in the squad. He is a personality, adds some devil to a side with a solid defence.

All three will have rough days with not much sight of the ball, and build a season by cashing in when it goes right, like at West Ham eight days ago.