One way or another we don't expect that Callum Wilson will be at Newcastle United next season whether he is sold in January or simply allowed to leave when his contract expires in the summer.
Of course, there's always a chance that Mr Sentimental, Eddie Howe tries to offer Wilson another year, but the reality is we are desperate for new blood up front, and even if Wilson does stay, he certainly can't be relied on to be adequate back-up to Alexander Isak.
Newcastle have Will Osula, who they will be hoping can emulate Lewis Hall's progress and take this season to get acclimatised and then become an absolute animal next season.
Even if that happens, though, the Magpies would be foolish not to bring in another first-team-ready striker before next season as they've already proved that having just two strikers in the squad is a bad move.
Thankfully, it appears like Newcastle are looking at potential forward options with Jonathan David as a constant link, but The Boot Room are now reporting again on Newcastle's interest in Botofogo striker Igor Jesus.
The 23-year-old is attracting a lot of interest from Premier League clubs with Fulham and Brentford adding their names to the list recently.
Igor Jesus recently received high praise in Brazilian media with Bernardo Franco telling Globo Esporte:
“He is a player with a very strong mentality. Extremely competitive and with a very high work rate. A lot of dedication, and commitment”.
The Brazil international, who joined Botofogo in July, already has eight goals, and now the Brazilian side faces a huge battle to keep him.
There's no indication of a fee just yet but Transfermarkt has him valued at £5 million, but their estimates are usually extremely conservative.
Igor Jesus looks like an attractive and possibly inexpensive option for Newcastle, but I am writing this will all my toes crossed that Jonathan David turns out to be the one.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
15 | -8 | 18 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
15 | -15 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |