OPINION
What Newcastle United need to save their season is a miracle, but more importantly – goals, and lots of them.
However, how is that going to happen when Rafa Benitez has a depleted looking attack who are hardly the talk of the town when it comes to attacking prowess?
Salomon Rondon – on loan for the season from West Brom – has tried his best this season, but you cannot score many goals when your teammates are not there to provide support.
Take a look at Joselu – yes, he may have saved United’s skins in extra time of their FA Cup third round replay against Blackburn on Tuesday, but that does not stem away from the fact that he has been practically useless for the entirety of the campaign so far.
Step forward striker Gregoire Defrel, a centre-forward from AS Roma who is currently on loan at Sampdoria.
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has said that the Magpies are keen on the 27-year-old, so Benitez must make signing him an ultimate priority this month if he is to salvage Newcastle’s season from the jaws of relegation.
Defrel has netted seven goals in 21 appearances for the Serie A side this term, which is a promising return considering we are only half way through the season.
He is set to go back to Roma at the end of the season when his loan stint expires, but seeing as they let him leave in the first place, it is highly unlikely that he is going to force his way into their first team plans, especially when the likes of Edin Dzeko are there.
This is why it makes sense for the attacker to make a switch to England, where his first team opportunities are likely to be increased compared to if he stayed in Italy.
Rondon’s loan spell is set to conclude at the end of the season and it is not yet known whether he will remain at St James’ Park beyond that time – so swooping for Defrel makes absolute sense if he does leave.
Benitez needs to get the fans bouncing once again this season, and pouncing for the Frenchman is the way to make that happen.
