OPINION
Newcastle need a striker this summer, desperately.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s days at the club are over, bewilderingly, and he’s on the verge of a move to Fulham, but only if Newcastle can find a replacement for £20million or less.
Well, there’s a current England international striker who Rafa Benitez could buy for just £15million and he’s got a point to prove in the Premier League.
Danny Welbeck is surplus to requirements at Arsenal and the Sun has reported that Unai Emery would be willing to sell this summer.
Everton are said to be weighing up a £15million offer for him, but only if they fail in a £36m bid for Bordeaux winger Malcom.
That gives Newcastle the perfect opportunity to steal in and bag themselves a bargain.
And no, we haven’t gone mad, despite the fact that Welbeck has only scored 15 league goals in four seasons with Arsenal.
First off, he’s never really had a run in the side. Secondly, look at his England stats. 16 in 40 games is an impressive tally and it proves Welbeck can find the net.
And let’s face it, what’s the alternative?
Newcastle’s number one striker target is reportedly West Brom’s Salamon Rondon, who struggles to find the net when he is playing consistently.
In a straight choice of Rondon or Welbeck, we’d go with the England international any day.
So, while Marco Silva is tying to land Malcom, Rafa Benitez should steam in and steal Welbeck. For £15million he could be one of the bargains of the summer.
Benitez was reportedly not looking to Rondon for goals but as someone who Ayoze Perez, Kenedy and Matt Ritchie could feed off. Welbeck could perform that role just as well, and his versatility means that Benitez will have a lot more options open to him.
At £15million he’s a snip, when you compare him to the affordable alternatives.
