Newcastle United currently do not have a manager after the board and former manager Rafa Benitez could not come to an agreement over a new contract for the Spaniard.
While the Newcastle board decide on the new manager, the rumour mill surrounding potential transfers continue.
The Magpies have been linked with quite a few strikers over the last month or so, following the end of Salomón Rondón’s loan spell.
According to an exclusive by Teamtalk, Newcastle are now interested in signing Beninese striker Steve Mounie, who currently plays for Huddersfield, who were relegated to the Championship at the end of the 2018-19 Premier League season.
The report states that Newcastle United are one of many clubs who are interested in the 24-year-old striker, which includes other Premier League sides like Watford, Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, while a few clubs in Germany and France are also interested in signing him.
What will he add to the team?
Mounie signed with Huddersfield in 2017 for a club-record transfer fee of €13 million, but it looks like the Terriers want to cut their wage bill following their relegation and will sell him before the start of the 2019-20 season.
In the 2018-19 season, Mounie scored twice and provided three assists in the Premier League for Huddersfield, who scored just 22 goals in the entire campaign.
The striker is an old-school centre-forward who likes to muscle defenders out of the way and acts as the perfect target man for long balls and goal kicks while he is also adept at meeting crosses in the box.
Very strong in the air, the 6’3″ striker is a very good player in either box, and can be a good focal point for teams that look to play direct football, like Newcastle United.
Mounie scored one goal off his head in the 2018-19 season, while also making 11 headed clearances in the season to help his defence. If Newcastle can keep hold of Ayoze Perez, they could form a good partnership up front, with the Spaniard playing in and around the tall striker.
The forward could be a useful signing for Newcastle who currently have just two first-team strikers in Yoshinori Muto and Dwight Gayle, following the impending departure of Joselu on a permanent deal to Alaves and the end of Salomon Rondon’s loan deal.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
Absolutely ZERO he’s a younger Joselu but equally as bad.
If we signed him we will be stone wall Certs for relegation ….