With fans protesting outside the famous old ground towards the end of June, St. James’ Park looks like a tough place to be.
Indeed, Rafa Benitez has left and the managerless club are now edging closer to selling their top scorer from last season, Ayoze Perez, with Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones claiming the Spaniard’s Leicester move is ‘pretty much a done deal’.
Ayoze Perez to Leicester is pretty much a done deal.
— Dean Jones (@DeanJonesSoccer) July 2, 2019
With the former Tenerife youngster on his way out and Salomon Rondon looking very unlikely to re-sign for them this summer, as Football Insider have reported that West Ham are set to table another bid for the West Brom man, it’s hard to see where the Magpies’ goals will come from in the 2019/20 season.
As notable journalist Daniel Storey pointed out on Twitter, Perez’s departure would leave Fabian Schar as the club’s next top scorer still in the squad, with the Swiss bagging 4 goals last season.
Dwight Gayle has returned to the club after his loan with the Baggies, but with his record in the Premier League of never scoring more than seven goals in a single season, Transfermarkt, it’s hard to see how he’ll replace Perez with the Spaniard bagging double figures in the top flight last season.
Nothing is confirmed as of yet, but Jones isn’t the only one to speak of Perez’s uncertain future, as Sky Sports have claimed that Leicester City have agreed a whopping £30m fee for the man that Newcastle paid just £1.5m for back in 2014, as per The Guardian.
You can read some of the Geordies’ verdict on the Ayoze Perez rumours here:
So this upcoming season we have no manager, Muto and Joselu up front and Mike Ashley as owner (a man who doesn’t want to spend any money on players). Hello championship in 2020/2021
— Andy Bruce (@andyb2630) 2 July 2019
‘’There will be no transfer activity until a manager is appointed…’’ pic.twitter.com/5zKuX1vXUa
— Jonny Weetman (@JonnyJMW90) 2 July 2019
How to lose a fan base in a week cheers @NUFC great decision making once again, the gift that keeps on giving #Nufc
— Rich Miller Nufc (@Rich1982Miller) 2 July 2019
How much is Mike Ashley getting from this transfer? #NUFC
— I have no name (@dh1892) 2 July 2019
Poor miggy
— mj murphy (@kingcreed23) 2 July 2019
If we still had Benitez I wouldn’t be so bothered, he’s a very hit and miss player and can be very average IMO. But as with our current state we really can’t afford to lose anyone 🙁
— James Froggatt (@frogman86) 2 July 2019
The current squad’s leading appearance maker and goalscorer going to an EPL rival. That’s a lot of experience to lose and are we going to get a replacement who will hit the ground running? I sincerely doubt it! Fortunately goals aren’t important in football.
— Matthew (@NayComment) 2 July 2019
