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Newcastle United are on the wrong path again with interest in RB Leipzig striker

By Durim Halimi

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Yussuf Poulsen of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Yussuf Poulsen of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Newcastle United are in dire need of a proven striker who can improve the front-line, but the Magpies are interested in the wrong player yet again.

What is it with Newcastle United and their inability to scout decent Premier League strikers in recent years? Yes, the club hit the nail on the head when they signed Salomon Rondon, who scored eleven goals and completed seven assists last season, but the front office dropped the ball by not offering him a permanent contract.

With strikers like Joelinton, Yoshinori Muto, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll, it comes as no surprise that Newcastle United are the joint-worst scoring team in the Premier League. That being said, Steve Nickson and his scouts should have a long list of strikers that would improve the team’s offensive efficiency in the final third.

Instead, a new report claims that Newcastle United are leading the race for another average striker… Yussuf Poulsen. Everton and West Ham are also in the race for his services, and Newcastle United should step back and let them waste their money.

Poulsen had one impressive season as a striker, but his overall form in the German top flight is nothing more than mediocre, and saying that is a bit of a stretch. Poulsen has played in the Bundesliga since 2016 and has made 103 league appearances for RB Leipzig since then, but he only has 27 goals to his name.

Yoshinori Muto, who has been a complete flop for the Magpies, had a better scoring record when he was in the Bundesliga with 20 goals in 66 games. Yeah, let that sink in for a bit. Poulsen earned some recognition with his good form last season – 15 goals in 31 games – but that is the only impressive season in his portfolio. See Poulsen’s statistics from the last four seasons below:

  • 2016-17: 5 goals (29 appearances)
  • 2017-18: 4 goals (30 appearances)
  • 2018-19: 15 goals (31 appearances)
  • 2019-20: 3 goals (13 appearances)

Take away his goals from last season, and Poulsen’s career average in the Bundesliga is four goals per season. As a result, Poulsen has fallen down the pecking order at the striker position and RB Leipzig are looking to ship him off after this season.

Next. Newcastle United must sign at least four players this summer. dark

The crazy thing is that RB Leipzig have set their asking price at £27m. What is even crazier is the fact that three Premier League clubs are still fervently interested despite that alarming price tag. You would think Newcastle United have learned their lesson from last summer, but I guess they want to waste precious money on another overpriced striker with a poor scoring record.