Newcastle United have a new manager in Steve Bruce, and some money to spend following the sale of Ayoze Perez and Joselu. The Magpies were linked with a move for Hoffenheim’s Joelinton, which seems to be a done deal. The Premier League side are now reportedly interested in signing one of their former players, striker Andy Carroll, who left the club back in 2011 to sign for Liverpool, before moving to London club West Ham United.
Carroll is currently a free agent, and The Sun are reporting that Newcastle could swoop in to sign the English striker on a free transfer this summer. Newcastle are yet to sign a player ahead of the 2019-20 season, with the Magpies’ fans displeased and angry at how Mike Ashley has been running the club, which has been exacerbated by a lack of signings and a possible takeover falling through.
Carroll joined West Ham initially on loan in 2012 before making his deal a permanent move in the following season. The English striker has scored 34 goals in 142 appearances for the club but played just 14 games last season, of which he just started four games, scoring just one goal. The 30-year-old’s season was cut short due to an ankle injury.
A good move by Bruce?
Newcastle United are in all sorts of trouble ahead of the 2019-20 season. The fans have turned on the board even before the season has started, thanks to the lack of transfer activity, sale of star forward Ayoze Perez, as well as the signing of Steve Bruce as manager, who replaced Rafa Benitez, who had become a fan favourite.
The Magpies need to sign at least two strikers for the upcoming season as they currently have Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto as their options up forward – neither of whom have a track record of being prolific goalscorers in the Premier League.
The move to sign Andy Carroll possibly signals the kind of football that Bruce is going to play next season – direct football with an emphasis on moving the ball quickly upfront. Carroll could be a potent tool for Bruce if the new manager intends to play that kind of football as he is someone who is physically strong and is a good header of the ball. The 30-year-old will be available on a free transfer, which would please their miser chairman Ashley. But this move for Carroll will only work if the English striker is injury-free and has recovered well from his past injuries.
Signing Carroll is a gamble worth taking for Newcastle United as they are currently without a striker with Premier League experience and one that can make an impact upfront.