Newcastle United are set to announce their third signing of the January transfer window, after agreeing a £12million with Spurs for England international Andros Townsend.
The 24-year-old is due on Tyneside tomorrow to undergo a medical and put pen-to-paper on a ‘long-term’ contract, taking Steve McClaren’s total spend to £84million since being appointed in the summer.
Newcastle’s board must be commended for acting uncharacteristically to get Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey ‘over the line’, rather than ignoring McClaren’s requests and signing someone from Graham Carr’s shortlist for a fraction of the price.
But, McClaren’s side are still short in the goalscoring department and, unless a potent goalscorer is signed in the coming days, all of the club’s good work so far this window will be undone.
Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves confirmed that the Magpies are in fact in the market for a striker, with one deal in particular ‘looking likely’.
Pete kept his cards close to his chest and has not revealed just which deal is looking likely, but The Chronicle’s chief sports writer Lee Ryder has given his verdict – French international Loïc Remy (on loan).
Newcastle’s hopes of landing the 29-year-old rely on Chelsea completing a move for Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato and, even if that goes through, there is still a potential stumbling block.
Remy is desperate to depart from Stamford Bridge in order to secure first-team football elsewhere, but the Magpies are just one of a number of potential suitors monitoring his situation.
Among the front runners for his signature are Crystal Palace, despite claims from ESPN that the Eagles had cooled their interest.
If Newcastle fail to convince Remy to snub the chance to stay in London in favour of a return to Tyneside, his fellow countryman, Bafetimbi Gomis, is believed to be the alternative.
Chief scout Graham Carr has been a keen admirer of Gomis’ ever since he signed for Lyon and has urged Newcastle to sign him on a number of occasions – with last summer being the most recent occasion when he was available on a free transfer.
It is believed the 30-year-old has a £7million release clause and would be interested in joining the Magpies, having fallen down the pecking order at the Liberty Stadium.
Saido Berahino is another name heavily linked with a move to Tyneside but, despite the intense speculation surrounding his future, it seems the English starlet is set to remain at the Hawthorns – until the summer transfer window at least. He remains at the top of Newcastle’s wish-list, but the chances of a deal materialising seem slim.
One last mouth-watering deal for the Geordie faithful to consider is a £20million move for Alexandre Lacazette. The Independent claim that Newcastle have ‘been given reason’ to believe they stand a chance of completing a deal for the 24-year-old. An unlikely signing, but an exciting rumour nonetheless.