Newcastle Desperately Need a Striker…who can actually score goals

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Written by Dan Lawson (@NaturallyHatem)

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With deadline day rapidly approaching, the clock is well and truly ticking on Newcastle’s well documented hunt for a true premier league goalscorer. However with the window drawing to a close, it is essential that we act quickly in order to make sure that we don’t miss out and risk a lengthy spell in the championship.

It’s funny to think that we are looking for a goalscorer when we have proven that we can score goals, netting a huge 19 of our 25 goals in our 12 home games this season. However this has largely been down to the genius of the wonderful Georginio Wijnaldum, who it is fair to say has carried us this season, even if we are only sitting in 18th place.

However intermittent his goalscoring record has been, Aleksandar Mitrovic has also looked exciting in his first ever Premier League season, forming a psychic partnership with Spanish wonder kid Ayoze Perez. His passion for the club and the fans is second to none. But, at the end of the day, a mere four goals is a poor return.

The most worrying aspect of this is that he has had chances in most games, and even though he has allowed the team to tick with his exceptional hold up play, he hasn’t delivered when it has mattered. The good thing with Mitrovic is that he is a young lad with undoubted potential, and is clearly a “rough diamond worth polishing”, however in the situation we are currently in, a rough diamond is not what we need, with relegation a vey real possibility.

With relegation staring the club in the face, there is no question that a guaranteed goalscorer is a must, and it appears that McClaren has finally admitted to these concerns in recent conferences, as well as acting swiftly with the recent transfers of Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend. The story of the last month or so for us has been chance upon chance but no goals, losing when we should have been winning with ease.

Furthermore, we have been defending extremely well in recent weeks which comes as a surprise compared to the Newcastle of the last few seasons in which shipping over three goals a game has become a far too common occurrence. However, this change only adds to the need for a striker.

While names like Saido Berahino and Alexandre Lacazette are being spread around, Steve McClaren and his ‘board’ should really consider a loan move for Loïc Rémy, a proven goalscorer not only in the premier league but at Newcastle too.

Rémy scored 14 in his 26 appearances at Newcastle, and has managed 8 in 28 at Chelsea, even with the majority of these appearances being 5-10 minute substitute appearances. He has a proven track record which should not be ignored, and shouldn’t come at a huge price either.

With Chelsea on the verge of signing Alexandre Pato and Crystal Palace completing the signing of Emmanuel Adebayor in recent days, everything seems to be in place for us to go for Rémy, rather than persist with Lacazette who has no intention of moving, or Berahino who is being priced out of a move.

With Rémy keen to move, it would be a huge mistake not to go for it, and as well as helping the club stay in the premier league and earning their fair share of the ludicrous TV deal next season, it will help relieve the pressure on the young shoulders of Aleksandar Mitrovic to keep Newcastle United in the premier league, only aiding the Serbian’s development.

The next five days could decide the next ten years of the club’s future, and it would be a matter of pure ignorance if we fail to bring a goalscorer  into the squad, Loïc Rémy or otherwise…

Who would you like to see join our ranks before 3rd February?