OPINION
Newcastle United were heavily linked with a swoop for Galatasaray winger Garry Rodrigues in the two most recent transfer windows, but a swoop never materialised.
Rodrigues was enjoying a brilliant season with the Turkish Super Lig side then, and was one of their prized assets heading into their Champions League campaign this term.
This season has not been so kind to the 27-year-old Cape Verde international or Galatasaray, with Rodrigues struggling for form while the club are out of the Champions League and sitting in fourth in the table.
Galatasaray also find themselves in a precarious financial situation ahead of the January transfer window, and that may now have opened the door for Newcastle to reignite their interest in Rodrigues.
As reported by Aksam, Rodrigues is one of three players set to be summoned to a meeting with club bosses in which they will be told to find new clubs in the upcoming window.
It is said that the club are expecting a big fee for Rodrigues, but considering his nosedive in form this season that is now unlikely, and Newcastle must pounce.
The Magpies are in need of quality attacking reinforcements, with players such as Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy not contributing enough on a regular basis.
Rodrigues may be struggling for form this season but the Cape Verde international has multiple weapons in his locker, being a winger who can beat his man and provide quality balls into the box while also having a keen eye for goal.
There was obviously a good reason behind Newcastle’s prolonged interest in the 28-year-old dazzler [Aksam], and now is the perfect time for them to reignite that hunt.
The touted fee previously was close to the £20million mark, but there is little chance Galatasaray will get close to that, and the Magpies should submit an opening £10million bid to get the wheel in motion.
Considering their precarious financial situation, Galatasaray will likely have to play ball, and the Magpies could end up with a top-quality player for a bargain price by the end of it.
