OPINION
Newcastle United have been lacking a clinical No.9 to lead their side all season but the perfect forward could easily be signed in the summer if they move for Lukas Nmecha.
The Manchester City teenager is one of the Premier League’s best kept secrets and his eye for goal is exactly what Rafa Benitez needs to add to his team as soon possible.
Nmecha has scored 20 goals in 19 outings this season, which includes scoring 15 goals in 11 appearances for Manchester City’s U-23s side in the Premier League 2.
The prolific centre-forward leads the Premier League 2’s scoring charts and averages a goal every 61 minutes in the competition.
With Pep Guardiola’s side being riddled with world-class superstars, it’s hard for a youth player to get any form of opportunity in the first-team.
However Nmecha, in recent weeks, has been allowed to feature briefly for the league champions and that is a testament to how highly he is rated at the Etihad Stadium.
The 19-year-old played 10 minutes of the 4-1 victory over West Ham, before making a four minute cameo in City’s last game to help his side see out a 3-1 win against Brighton.
Despite his prolific form at youth level and how highly he is rated at Manchester City, he will still struggle to get the playing time he deserves at the club next season.
The Manchester Evening News reported in April that if Nmecha was seen as not being needed by the first-team next season, which is likely, he would be shipped out on loan.
This should be music to Benitez’s ears as the teenager is capable of leading the Magpies’ frontline next season and a deal would be able to be struck that would even fit in with Mike Ashley’s strict transfer budget.
It’s very doubtful that the fee needed to loan Nmecha would be too high, as Man City will want him to get regular first-team football and it’s not exactly like they need the money.
Aside from his prolific form, the Man City teen is comfortable holding the ball up or running in behind defences using his blistering pace, and these are two attributes a forward needs at St James’ Park.
Therefore it should be clear to the Magpies that Man City are hiding their dream new No.9 in plain sight and that the club must swoop for him in the summer, as there’s a real chance they could successfully sign him.
