We've said since the end of the last season that Newcastle United need at least one striker in this summer transfer window.
Eddie Howe, meanwhile, was happy to stick with the two he has heading into the new campaign but with just four weeks to go, that plan has already backfired.
We all know that Callum Wilson's injury record makes him more of a liability than an asset these days, and he's proven that again with his latest setback which looks to keep him out of the season opener.
Therefore, Newcastle's focus in this window must be to bring in extra reinforcements up front.
Newcastle have been linked with outstanding Canadian forward Jonathan David from Lille, but now it has come to light via journalist James Nursey, that the Magpies have their eye on Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran.
As a player with a pulse, Chelsea are also keen on Duran, however, it seems that West Ham lead the way in the pursuit of Duran owing to the player wanting to work under a Spanish-speaking boss and to be given guarantees over first-team football.
Bizarrely, Duran already gets first-team football from a Spanish-speaking boss at Villa who also plays in claret and blue. Maybe Duran wants change but also hates change.
The 20-year-old Colombian played 23 times in the Premier League last season for Villa, scoring five goals, improving on his 12 appearances with no return the previous season.
Duran is definitely a hot prospect and would be a good signing for Newcastle, but with West Ham willing to fork over £40million for his services and Duran keen to go, it looks like a non-starter for Newcastle.
Besides, do we really want a player who can't even spell his own name properly? Move the "h", Jhon!
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
12 | 16 | 31 |
2 |
Manchester City
|
12 | 5 | 23 |
3 |
Chelsea
|
12 | 9 | 22 |
4 |
Arsenal
|
12 | 9 | 22 |
5 |
Brighton
|
12 | 5 | 22 |
6 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
12 | 14 | 19 |
7 |
Nottingham Forest
|
12 | 2 | 19 |
8 |
Aston Villa
|
12 | 0 | 19 |
9 |
Fulham
|
12 | 0 | 18 |
10 |
Newcastle United
|
12 | 0 | 18 |
11 |
Brentford
|
12 | 0 | 17 |
12 |
Manchester United
|
12 | 0 | 16 |
13 |
Bournemouth
|
12 | -1 | 15 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
12 | -4 | 15 |
15 |
Everton
|
12 | -7 | 11 |
16 |
Leicester
|
12 | -8 | 10 |
17 |
Wolves
|
12 | -8 | 9 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
12 | -10 | 9 |
19 |
Crystal Palace
|
12 | -7 | 8 |
20 |
Southampton
|
12 | -15 | 4 |