According a recent report from The Daily Telegraph, Danny Welbeck’s future is uncertain heading into the final few weeks of the transfer window. The 27-year-old played just 11 minutes of England’s run to the semi-finals of the World Cup this summer but earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad after a decent second half of the season for Arsenal, netting six times in 2018.

Yet it appears that new manager Unai Emery could seek to get rid of the £13.5 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) this summer, in news which should be of interest to Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and the club’s hierarchy, as a Mike Ashley move for the forward could go some way to appeasing the Magpies faithful.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, it has been 13 years since Newcastle spent £16 million on luring Michael Owen back to England after a short stint at Real Madrid, which to this day remains their club transfer record.

And given the extortionate fees being banded around nowadays, it is quite remarkable that the Magpies haven’t spent more than £16 million on a player since then, especially given that £16 million isn’t necessarily a huge amount of money for an accomplished player in the modern game.

Unsurprisingly, it has been owner Ashley who has rightly taken the criticism for the club’s transfer policy in recent years, which looks set to remain the same heading into this summer as, with less than a month to go until the window shuts, Newcastle have added just three names to their squad, two of which were there on loan last season in the form of Martin Dubravka and Kenedy.

As such, Newcastle fans up and down the country are getting increasingly frustrated with Ashley given the foundations are there and the manager is there in Benitez to really take the club forward this season, although the owner could go some way to appeasing those supporters by landing the available Welbeck, in what would be a genuine show of ambition.

The 27-year-old may not be the most prolific goal-scorer in the Premier League, but his tally of 41 goals in 198 games at top-flight level places him above the other striking options currently at Benitez’s disposal, while his fine second half of the season post-injury last term suggests that there is plenty more to come from the Englishman this time round.

The forward bagged six goals in 2018 for Arsenal as they finished sixth in the top tier and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, while his inclusion in Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup underlined that Welbeck brings more to the team than just goals, with his pace, tenacity, and work-rate obvious assets that Benitez could call upon.

And with Newcastle seeking to move to the next level, and Welbeck reportedly available for transfer this summer, it’s a move the North East giants must seek to strike – doing so could see Ashley go some way to finally appeasing the St James’ Park faithful.

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