With Newcastle United linked with Felipe Caicedo, the club might be wise to bring back two of their former strikers instead.
With Joelinton still sitting on one Premier League goal, it’s not surprising for Newcastle United to be linked with multiple strikers for the summer. Some of them are obviously more intriguing than others. The latest rumored target is 31-year-old Lazio striker Felipe Caicedo. I’d prefer they signed a younger option or a proven scorer in the Premier League. Rather than make a move for Caicedo, if Newcastle wants an over-30 striker, they should bring back either Demba Ba or Papiss Cisse.
Both Ba and Cisse are currently 34 years old and playing in the Turkish Super Lig. Why should the club bring in an older striker that’s playing in a lower league? Because both options are familiar faces from better times on Tyneside, proven in the EPL, and neither should require a costly transfer fee. Cisse’s contract actually ends in June and would allow for a free transfer.
For Caicedo, he has eight goals this season and only has one previous season with double-digit league goals, back in 2010-11 with Levante. Ba had 14 goals in 2016 in the Chinese Super League and most of the full seasons of his career have ended with double-digit tallies. Cisse’s recent success is even more impressive. He already has 16 goals in the Super Lig this season, which matches his total from last season.
With some unrest always existing these days among the Toon Army, bringing back Demba Ba or Papiss Cisse would give the fans another reminder of better times that can potentially help get fans in seats and goals in the back of the net.