OPINION
Outspoken pundit Robbie Savage is missing the obvious after he suggested that Newcastle United would find it difficult to attract a new forward to the club in January.
The BT Sport pundit questioned who would want to join the Magpies if they launched a possible January transfer mission to find a new frontman, and shared that they would either have to offer a big wage or take a chance on somebody.
“Now in January, if you’re Newcastle looking for a centre forward (A) you’re in the bottom three and (B) unless you’re going to pay £150,000-£200,000 a-week and take a chance on somebody, who is going to go there?” stated Savage while on BBC 606 [transcribed by the Chronicle].
“But I’m looking at Newcastle and Huddersfield, who is going to score the goals to keep them up? Something needs to happen and happen fast or they are going to go down.”
However Savage is missing the obvious as the Magpies are more likely to have forwards lining up to play for them if they continue to struggle for goals all the way up to January.
Any forward potentially joining the club, especially one who has been frustrated other a lack of opportunities with the current side, knows their destined to be handed chances to play by Rafa Benitez if recruited.
Everyone will know that there is an opening for a forward at St James Park and some, even proven Premier League forwards, would probably be willing to take a lesser wage to join club they know that will get opportunities at.
Given that the Magpies showed against Brighton that they were capable of creating chances for their leading man, they blasted 41 crosses in to the box, surely an attacker confident in their ability would be chomping at the bit to play for a club in the Premier League crying out for a goalscorer.
This would even be the case if the Magpies found themselves in the bottom three as unless their physically confirmed down at that point, which is unlikely, then there’s always a chance of securing top-flight for next season.
Also Savage suggests the club would need to take a chance but in truth, anytime you sign a player you’re taking a risk as no one is a guaranteed success story.
Islam Slimani joined from Leicester City on loan in January last season and no one could have predicted how little impact he could have had, because on paper he ticked several boxes.
Therefore this all means that Savage sounds completely clueless with his ominous remarks about the Magpies potential hunt for a transfer as not only are the club able to uncover potential gems, experienced forwards will know they can get goals at St James Park.
