According to a recent report from The Daily Mail, Newcastle United are one of many sides interested in a January move for Clinton N’Jie. The 25-year-old currently plays his football at Ligue 1 outfit Marseille and has done so since leaving Tottenham back in 2017, with his fine form for the French giants seemingly attracting plenty of interest from the English top-flight.

And that’s because reports suggest that Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle, as well as Burnley, Cardiff City, and Fulham, are keen on a January move for the £5.85 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt), whose arrival may go some way to ridding the Magpies of the hugely ineffective Christian Atsu.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, while 26-year-old Atsu performed reasonably well in his first season at St James’ Park in netting five goals and laying on three assists in their run to the Championship title, he simply hasn’t been able to produce the goods for the North East heavyweights in the Premier League.

The winger has managed two goals and laid on two assists in 42 top-flight appearances for the Magpies in the last 18 months or so, and with none of those four contributions coming in the Premier League this time round, it’s clear that the Ghana international simply isn’t effective enough in the final third if Benitez is to take Newcastle forward in years to come.

Yes, his level of performance has been somewhat better in the last few weeks, but being unable to translate that into meaningful contributions simply isn’t going to help Newcastle in their battle to move up the Premier League table - he’s clearly got ability, but the Magpies don’t get enough out of him.

And while N’Jie struggled during his time in English football with Tottenham between 2015 and 2017, his recent form for Marseille suggests that he would almost certainly be an upgrade on the hugely ineffective Atsu at St James’ Park.

The 25-year-old initially joined the French side on loan from Spurs in the 2016/17 campaign and went on to score four times in just 22 Ligue 1 appearances for the club, thus earning him a permanent move to the Stade Velodrome in a bid to get his career going again.

And he certainly did just that last season with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions for Marseille as they reached the final of the Europa League and finished fourth in the French top-flight, with his seven goals in 22 Ligue 1 matches very much aiding his side’s run to another Europa League qualification.

And in being able to play centre forward alongside adeptness down both flanks, N’Jie’s arrival would give Benitez plenty of options in the final third of the pitch - and with the Magpies not exactly well-stocked in the striking department, he’d likely be a viable alternative up top.

Importantly though, it looks as though the 25-year-old would be an upgrade on current first-choice winger Atsu, with his possible arrival this month potentially ridding the Magpies of the awful Ghana star.

Newcastle fans… what do you think? Let us know!