According to a recent report from The Northern Echo, Britt Assombalonga’s future remains far from certain heading into the rest of the January window. The striker currently plays his football at Championship promotion-chasers Middlesbrough and has done so since leaving Nottingham Forest back in the summer of 2017, although financial woe at the Riverside Stadium appears to have left the DR Congo international’s future in some doubt.

And that’s because a recent report from The Northern Echo suggests that Boro manager Tony Pulis is looking to offload the 26-year-old this month in a bid to raise much-needed funds, which should be of interest to Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez as, although it would be a risk, moving for the linked-away hotshot could seriously benefit his goal-shy side.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, the biggest problem the Magpies have had this season, and indeed pretty much ever since returning to the Premier League back in 2017, is putting the ball in the back of the net having scored only 19 times in 23 games this term, adding to the 39 they managed in their 38 league matches last time round.

And while Salomon Rondon appears to be the number one striker at St James’ Park, the other options at Benitez’s disposal simply haven’t produced the goods and as such don't inspire much confidence, with Joselu and Yoshinori Muto bagging just three goals between them in all competitions this time round.

And if the North East giants are to pull away from the bottom three towards the safety of mid-table, they are simply going to have to score a lot more goals than they are doing at present, which is why a move for linked-away Assombalonga is certainly a risk worth taking.

The 26-year-old has proven to be a hugely prolific striker at Championship level over the years at both Forest and now Middlesbrough, with the DR Congo star netting 30 goals in just 65 league games for the former between 2014 and 2017, and indeed 21 goals in only 59 appearances for the latter since then.

And with at least 14 goals in each of his three full seasons in the second tier, it’s clear just how lethal Assombalonga has proven to be in front of goal over the years - even this term, in which he hasn't been a regular under Pulis with only 15 starts to his name, he has still managed seven goals.

Yes, he has struggled with injuries in the past, missing the majority of the 2015/16 season at Forest due to a serious knee problem, but the fact that he has stayed injury-free in recent years suggests that he may be beginning to get over his injury woes.

Alongside no prior experience at Premier League level, a move for the 26-year-old would certainly represent something of a risk from the Magpies, but one that could seriously reap the rewards if Assombalonga can replicate his Championship efforts in the top-flight - plenty have done so before to suggest that it can certainly be done.

And with a goal-scoring record like Assombalonga's, he’s always likely to carry a threat in the final third - and with his future reportedly (as per The Northern Echo) uncertain heading into the rest of this month’s window, a Newcastle move for the striker is a risk certainly worth taking.

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