OPINION
Newcastle United have rarely had as ineffective a striker in their history as Joselu – Xisco the only one who comes to mind – and so it will have baffled fans to see two clubs linked with the Spaniard this month.
The Chronicle reported on Tuesday that two clubs are interested in signing the former Stoke City man in what is left of the January transfer window in what is a shock exit route for the Spaniard.
In 50 games for Newcastle the 28-year-old has scored just seven times – yes, seven times. That is absolutely shocking, and should lead to him being booted out of St James’ Park as soon as possible.
It is thought that manager Rafael Benitez will want assurances that Joselu will be replaced if he’s allowed to leave the club. That is the stumbling block for the Magpies, unfortunately, because we know how reluctant owner Mike Ashley is to spend money.
But for Newcastle as a football team, they should be looking to bite these clubs’ hands off. Whatever they offer for Joselu it should be accepted – he’s been that bad.
Plus, Benitez has a replacement for the player coming back to the first team fold soon in Yoshinori Muto. The summer signing is away on international duty with Japan, but will return soon with the Asian Cup almost at an end. He can take Joselu’s spot in the squad, with Salomon Rondon entrenched as the first choice frontman.
As Benitez proved against Manchester United earlier this season, his team can flourish without a physical number nine like Rondon and Joselu. In the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, where Muto scored, the team performed well in the first half with Muto and Ayoze Perez up front.
So it’s not as if Benitez would be left bare with only Rondon as a ‘typical’ centre forward. He can simply revert to the more fluid Muto-Perez combination.
But, above all else, Newcastle must get rid of Joselu as soon as they can. If clubs are truly in for him then the Magpies must take advantage of their stupidity – Joselu must be sold.
