da wazamba： According to reports in The Sun on April 21, Newcastle United are targeting a summer move for £20m-rated Bournemouth striker Josh King,
da mrbet： The Sun says that Rafa Benitez is looking for a new number nine at the end of the season after his side preserved their Premier League status for at least another year after surpassing the magic 40-point mark earlier this month, and the Norway international is said to be his top target.
With Islam Slimani only on loan from Leicester City, Aleksandar Mitrovic looking increasingly likely to leave after a hugely positive spell with Fulham and Joselu struggling for form and goals, it is clear that the Tyneside outfit need to make a change up top.
The Cherries man has been in impressive form for the south coast outfit over the course of the last two seasons – last term especially – and he may well be a target for many top flight clubs this summer.
Meanwhile, another man in demand could be West Bromwich Albion striker Jay Rodriguez, whom they signed from Southampton last year to boost their attacking options and whom has scored 33 Premier League goals in 138 Premier League appearances in total, as per Transfermarkt.
While he has impressed at times this term his club are on the verge of suffering relegation to the Championship, but the 28-year-old’s displays suggest that he is at a level where he can still make a big impact at this level, and he should also be on Benitez’s radar.
Here are three reasons Newcastle must forget King and sign the one-cap England international instead…
Rodriguez showed the quality that he has in his locker when he scored 15 goals in 33 Premier League appearances during the 2013/14 season, but the injury that he suffered against Manchester City towards the end of that campaign certainly affected him for a number of years since that moment at Southampton.
It was clear that the 28-year-old needed a new start somewhere else and his form for West Brom this term – 11 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions – show that he is still capable of finding the net on a regular basis at this level for Newcastle.
One of Rodriguez’s main issues, and one of the reasons that clubs would have been hesitant about acquiring his services last summer, was because there would have been a concern over whether he could have got back to his best.
However, the 28-year-old, whose all-round statistics this term suggest he would be one of the transfer gems of the summer, has shown by making 34 Premier League appearances for West Brom this season that his fitness is no longer an issue, and Newcastle wouldn’t have to worry about him getting injured as much as they may have done previously.
While Bournemouth striker King could reportedly cost Newcastle £20m, the Magpies would surely fancy their chances of signing Rodriguez for a smaller fee should West Brom suffer relegation to the Championship – something that seems to be on the cards right now.
The fact that the Baggies player is quick, often seems to find himself in the right place at the right time, and can also play out wide if needed mean that Benitez should hesitate on splashing the cash on the 28-year-old.
Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.