Newcastle United supporters in the Transfer Tavern are eagerly anticipating the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with their team seeking to build upon their impressive tenth place finish last time round.
Rafa Benitez’s men deserve great credit for securing a top half finish upon their return to the English top-flight last term, having just 12 months earlier lifted the Championship title. Yet it’s pretty clear based on their limitations last season that reinforcements will be needed at St James’ Park this summer, especially if manager Benitez has ambitions of taking the North East giants back to their former glories.
Thus, there are many expectant Magpies fans up and down the country, several of whom are likely to be interested by reports linking their side with a move for Liverpool’s Divock Origi.
The 23-year-old has struggled for regular football since moving to Anfield back in 2014 to the point that he has enjoyed two loan spells at Lille and Wolfsburg since joining the Reds, the latter of which coming last time round to underline his lowly place in Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order.
And it appears that Benitez’s Newcastle are keen on landing the striker this summer, although there are plenty of other Liverpool stars who the Magpies should seek to sign during the close season that would offer them more than the 23-year-old Belgian ace.
As such, they should forget Origi and instead seek to land these TWO Reds stars…
Newcastle fans will be well aware of the qualities Georginio Wijnaldum brings to one’s side, what with the Netherlands international excelling in his one-year stay on Tyneside to thus earn a move to Liverpool.
And the 27-year-old has since gone from strength to strength by becoming a key member of Klopp’s squad at Anfield, with the Dutchman slotting effortlessly into a deeper midfield role during his time on Merseyside, making 92 appearances for the Reds.
Yet the midfielder has since been linked with a move away from the club following the summer arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita, and Newcastle must seek to pounce in a bid to not only bolster their midfield ranks, but potentially their attacking ranks as well given Wijnaldum excelled further forward during his time at St James’ Park.
Newcastle are in dire need of a striker that will regularly put the ball in the back of net, having managed just 39 goals in their 38 Premier League games last season.
And with Joselu and Dwight Gayle not entirely convincing in the top-flight last term, and Aleksandar Mitrovic clearly not what Benitez wants from his main man up top, it’s clear that a prolific forward is needed.
And that is exactly what Sturridge is.
The 28-year-old may have endured a testing spell on loan at West Brom in the second half of last season, but the Englishman’s goal record at top-flight level is hugely impressive having netted 75 goals in 200 games in the Premier League.
Yes, injuries have been something of a concern throughout his career, but when fit and firing, there aren’t many better strikers in the division than Sturridge, who Newcastle must seek to land this summer in a bid to solve their goal-scoring crisis.
