OPINION
Newcastle United should make a huge effort to sign Birmingham City forward Che Adams in the next transfer window after it was reported that the Tyneside club could have a huge £100million warchest in the summer.
Reliable journalist Lee Ryder made the mouthwatering claim on the Newcastle Chronicle website on Wednesday, when he claimed in a Q&A session that Rafa Benitez “could arguably expect up to £100million to spend” ahead of next season.
While Mike Ashley’s spending habits in the last few years don’t back that claim up, the success of Miguel Almiron since his record-breaking move to St James’ Park in January could make Ashley re-think his financial strategy.
Unless Benitez gets a lot of money to spend in the summer then he might not sign a new contract with the Magpies.
Benitez’s current deal expires at the end of the season and Ashley may well give into his demands in a bid to keep the ex-Liverpool manager on board.
And if Benitez does stay and does have that much money to spend, then one of the players who he needs to sign is Adams, who has been on fire in the Championship this season.
The 22-year-old has scored a stunning 21 goals and supplied four assists in 37 Championship appearances for Blues.
League leaders Norwich and promotion-chasing Leeds United and Middlesbrough have all been victims of the prolific forward, who Newcastle have reportedly been scouting this year.
According to a report by TeamTalk in February, the Magpies are in the race to sign Adams.
Tottenham, Everton, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also said to be interested in the Leicester-born attacker, and understandably that has led to Birmingham placing a £20million price-tag on his head.
However if Newcastle really do have £100million to spend in the summer – or anywhere near that – then they need to put aside a chunk of it to go after Adams.
He is in great form, he is young, he is English and he could be Newcastle’s starting centre-forward for years to come and eventually fetch an ever bigger fee than the one he was signed for.
