Players who should be on Alan Pardew’s St James’ Park wish-list.
Without Europa League football next season, Alan Pardew and his colleagues do not appear to be wanting to try a mass overhaul like January, when he brought in six new faces. Instead the Newcastle manager has told reporters he wants a striker, a left winger and maybe a defender.
Instead it appears Pardew and co are looking to bring in a forward, and potentially a defender as Danny Simpson has left and Mike Williamson looks poised to exit this summer.
The central midfield has lost two fringe players, Dan Gosling and James Perch, but I cannot see the Magpies replacing them as they have Anita, Cabaye, Sissoko, Tiote, Bigirimana and new boy Kemen.
Here are the five best players I think Newcastle can sign, that they have been linked with, this summer. (Since Kinnear opted to not sign him, I have left Dutch defender Douglas out of this.)
5. Darren Bent (Aston Villa)
With a price tag of just £6million, which Newcastle still wish to lower, I feel the Kinnear could do a lot worse than sign Darren Bent. The former England international is a proven goal scorer in the Premier League as he has shown wherever he has played. I think if Pardew continues his one upfront tactic, then Bent is an ideal back up for Papiss Cissé – especially with Adam Campbell hoping to stamp a place in the first team this season.
4. Loic Remy (QPR)
After snubbing the side in January, the French striker may not be a big hit instantly up north, but Loic will certainly score. The QPR man has great pace, a good touch and an excellent right foot, helping him to 6 goals in his brief time at QPR. Remy is also a lot different to Papiss Cisse, which allows Alan Pardew to try other attacking formations with two upfront, or one just behind in a 4231 (or 4411) shape.
3. Scott Sinclair (Man City)
With target Tom Ince set to sign for Cardiff City, Newcastle look to have failed in their attempt to strengthen their left wing, which Pardew has confirmed he wishes to strengthen. If they add further depth to Jonas, Marveaux and Ben Arfa that will allow Gouffran to play upfront with Cissé or just behind him. Allowing far more tactical options to Alan Pardew to try, rather than the usual 433 with Cisse upfront.
2. Kurt Zouma (Saint-Etienne)
Depth in defence has been Newcastle’s main downfall in recent years but now they appear to have some stability with Coloccini, Taylor and Yanga-Mbiwa. Three top central defenders all fighting for first team football, with young players coming through – such as Curtis Good and Paul Drummett. Buying a veteran defender strikes me as a poor move due to the lack of game time they will receive, so instead, I feel a move for a younger player suits the squad instead. Plus, Zouma has the potential to become one of the best defenders around, at the age of 18, he has plenty of years to grow as a player. The Etienne defender would set back the club €10-15million, if they were to try sign him, but his personal terms would fit their wage structure.
1. Bafetimbi Gomis (Lyon)
Strength, pace and great finishing – the French Drogba could be exactly what Newcastle need to work alongside Papiss Cissé and his French contingent next season. In my opinion, Gomis fits ideally into the Newcastle side that plays 4231 with Ben Arfa, Sissoko and Marveaux behind the striker. This is due to his ability to hold a ball up, time his runs and, ultimately, finish when it comes to the final ball.