Newcastle could target these EPL strikers this summer
These three players would help Newcastle United in the attack.
Newcastle United will definitely be making some additions this offseason, especially if the takeover goes through as expected. Finding a new striker should be a top priority. While they could look elsewhere to improve the position, we discuss three players in the English top flight that could help.
Michy Batshuayi
In the past, Batshuayi has expressed an interest in staying with Chelsea to make his mark rather than move elsewhere. But, Tammy Abraham has grabbed the striker spot with the Blues and he is four years, to the day, younger than Batshuayi. Now that he’s 26 years old and with one year left on his deal, it seems like the perfect time for the Belgian international to become the first-choice option with a different club.
That type of opportunity is something that has not come often for Batsman. But, he’s taken advantage of a couple of loan spells like with Borussia Dortmund (nine goals in 14 appearances) and Crystal Palace (six goals in 13 appearances). He’s also scored 16 goals for the Belgian national team.
Up top, he brings the ability to run in behind the backline and also uses his physicality to hold off defenders. His movement off the ball would pair well with Newcastle’s creative and pacey attacking players Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.
Divock Origi
Like Batshuayi, Origi is a Belgian international that has been stuck behind other strikers for his club. Since he arrived back in 2014, there has only been one season that he played in more than 20 Premier League matches. That was the 2016-17 season when he scored seven goals and added four assists in 34 EPL appearances.
Last season, Origi shined when the lights were the brightest for Liverpool. Between the Premier League and the Champions League, he scored six goals. He scored a brace, including the dramatic final goal, in Liverpool’s 4-0 semifinal win over Barcelona before adding a goal in the final vs. Spurs. He also headed home a last-minute winner against Everton and Newcastle United.
Origi has the ability to strike the ball with power and also use his athleticism to out-jump defenders to win the ball in the air. Also, that ability to score goals in crunch time is a massive boost to any club. He signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool last July, but he could be intrigued to become a starting striker in the English top flight with Newcastle United.
Callum Wilson
Despite being critical of his own performance this season, Callum Wilson is one of the strikers that is linked with moves to bigger clubs these days. He joined Bournemouth in the Championship for the 2014-15 season. He proceeded to play in 45 league matches and notch 20 goals to go with 13 assists, leading the Cherries into the first division.
His first two seasons in the Premier League saw him score 11 goals total, missing significant time with a knee injury. He would suffer another ACL injury in the opposite knee in February of 2017. He returned during the 2017-18 season to score eight goals and add two assists in 28 EPL appearances.
He bounced back last season with 14 goals and ten assists in 30 appearances and currently has eight goals and one assist this EPL campaign.
Wilson isn’t the most thrilling striker to watch, but he is a really solid target man that takes advantage of his chances. He has 43 shots this season, which gives him a solid conversion rate (Miguel Almiron has the same amount of shots and Joelinton only has one fewer). Newcastle United don’t need a flashy striker or to think outside the box here. They need someone that puts the ball in the back of the net with their feet, head, from the penalty spot, and when they only need to tap it home. That is Callum Wilson.