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Newcastle should use their funds on the attack, not Koulibaly

By Carson A Merk

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 01: Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio San Paolo on December 01, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 01: Kalidou Koulibaly of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Bologna FC at Stadio San Paolo on December 01, 2019 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /
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With depth and talent in central defense, Newcastle United shouldn’t break the bank to sign Kalidou Koulibaly.

In recent days, Newcastle United have been linked with Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly. The central defender has been linked with clubs like Manchester United in the past and would command a massive transfer fee. While it’s never a bad thing to add world-class talent to your club, I think Newcastle United would be better served spending that money on their woeful attack.

Along with the excitement over the financial investment the new ownership will make, there has been the argument to temper expectations of a massive shopping spree, largely due to Financial Fair Play laws. Keeping that in mind, the transfer budget should be allocated largely to the attack.

You could argue that Newcastle United’s backline underachieved a bit this season, but most would say that the backline and Martin Dubravka behind them are the strongest part of the club. Also, the best group in the defensive unit is the center backs that includes captain Jamaal Lascelles, 2018-19 Premier League Newcomer of the Year Fabian Schar, and veterans like Federico Fernandez, Florian Lejeune, and 2016-17 NUFC Player of the Year Ciaran Clark.

Would you rather add a 28-year-old Koulibaly to that deep, talented group and try to find a cheaper, less promising striker to replace Joelinton? It just seems irresponsible to shell out the huge money it will take to bring the Sengalese international to the club when the club’s current first-choice striker scored once in the Premier League. Somebody will try to justify this move by stating how Virgil van Dijk’s arrival turned Liverpool into a juggernaut. But, it’s easy to focus on that end of the pitch when you have a high-flying attack that includes the likes of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mo Salah.

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I may be staunchly in the minority, but I do not think signing Koulibaly is the best investment. For me, the best strategy would be spending your biggest fee on a striker and trying to add a younger, promising central defender to develop and eventually replace one of the older options ahead of him on the depth chart.