Newcastle are eager to bring in a new striker this January to ease their deficiencies in front of goal, but need to let players go before they can sign reinforcements.
The Magpies have struggled for goals all season having scored only 20 in as many league games, while their four strikers have netted only once between them all season in the top flight.
Steve Bruce has contained expectations suggesting that Newcastle won't necessarily bring in any new blood this January, but it is reported that his private conversations with the recruitment team tell a different story.
According to The Northern Echo, Newcastle will have to sell players to make room for new arrivals, with Jarrod Bowen and Alfredo Morelos potentially being courted by the Toon.
After his side's 2-1 defeat to Everton, Bruce confessed: “That’s one of the difficulties we’ve got. We’d obviously have to make way for somebody if we were bringing somebody in. I might have to let two or three go if we’re going to make changes, otherwise I can’t fit anybody into the squad.”
Saturday's defeat left Newcastle in 11th, finishing 2019 in the bottom half of the table and once again exposing their issues going forward.
However, links with Hull's Bowen and Rangers' Morelos may not come to fruition, with the former valued incredibly highly by the Championship side, while Rangers are unlikely to let the latter leave during their challenge for the Scottish Premiership title.
Bowen has scored 15 goals in the Championship this season, but rarely features as an out-and-out striker, while Morelos has scored 20 goals in all competitions for Steven Gerrard's side.
Regardless of who is coming in, it appears Dwight Gayle is one of those who will exit the north east club, but Bruce is only willing to let the attacker leave if it allows him to bring in a replacement striker. As a result, a loan deal would be likely as it would free up space in the squad.
Gayle is valued at approximately £15m by Newcastle, despite having only started one Premier League game all season, and has been linked with Fulham, Leeds and West Brom - where he scored 23 league goals on loan last term.
However, Bruce remained coy on all potential deals, saying: "There’s a few plates spinning. That’s about it at the minute, but we’ll see if we can do anything. I keep saying it, if there’s someone out there who can make us better, we’ll look to do something."
Source :
90min
