According to reports in the Daily Mail, West Bromwich Albion sent a scout to watch Red Star Belgrade striker Richmond Boakye in action in his side’s Europa League clash against Cologne in the Serbian capital on Thursday night.
The 24-year-old didn’t get on the score-sheet in the 1-0 victory for the hosts, but he was part of the team that qualified for the knockout stages of the competition and he may well be a potential target for new Baggies boss Alan Pardew during the January transfer window.
The west Midlands outfit have gone 12 matches without a Premier League win and lie just outside of the relegation zone, and Pardew could look to add a goalscorer to his squad.
The Ghana international has certainly been in prolific form for club and country this term, and it is no surprise that he is attracting admiring glances from English clubs.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is another that will be hoping to make additions to his side in the New Year, with the Magpies having taken just one point from the last 18 available in the top flight.
The Spaniard may feel that adding to his attacking options is a priority, and bringing the centre-forward to St James’ Park could prove to be a shrewd move. Here are three reasons Newcastle must hijack West Brom’s bid to sign Boakye…
They need a striker
Newcastle brought in Joselu from Stoke City during the summer transfer window to boost a frontline already containing Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic, but his arrival perhaps hasn’t had the desired effect in terms of goals and all-round effectiveness.
The Spaniard has scored two Premier League goals – the same tally as central defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark – while Gayle also has two and Mitrovic just the one.
It is clear that the Magpies need another centre-forward option with Mitrovic also possibly on his way out after finding first-team minutes hard to come by following his suspension earlier in the campaign, and Boakye could prove to be the right addition at the right time.
Goals
As we mentioned previously, Newcastle aren’t getting enough goals and they have just 14 in their 15 Premier League matches so far this term.
If that record continues across the season they will likely find themselves in a relegation battle, and they need a striker that will be more prolific than their main starter Joselu has been during the current campaign.
With 22 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for Red Star Belgrade and a further two for Ghana this season, Boakye has proven that he has the ability to find the net on a consistent basis and the Magpies could certainly do with that finishing ability right now.
Price tag
While Boakye’s contract with Red Star isn’t due to run out until 2020, you get the feeling that he could be available for a reasonable fee in the current market during the January transfer window, and it might be a figure that Newcastle and Benitez can’t afford to turn their noses up at.
Reports in The Mirror earlier this month suggested that the Spaniard may only ask for £20m to spend in the New Year, and if that is the case then someone like the 24-year-old would be a realistic striker option as the former Liverpool boss looks to solve his current side’s goalscoring woes.
Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.
