Imagine, if you can, Adama Troare flying down the Camp Nou wing. He whips a cross to the far post, nodded down by Luuk de Jong, into the path of an on-running Martin Braithwaite. 1-0 Barcelona.
Two years ago, suggesting that two former Middlesbrough benchwarmers could form a front three alongside one of Newcastle United’s most forgettable flops at Barcelona would have earned you a wardrobe full of straightjackets.
What next? Didier Ndong displacing Luka Modric in Real Madrid’s midfield. Joselu leading the line at Valencia?
What’s that, AS? Valencia, La Liga winners in 2004, Champions League finalists twice since the turn of the Century, are interested in a man who couldn’t hit a skyscraper with a tuba, let alone a barn door with a banjo, during his ill-fated spell at Newcastle United?
It’s a funny old game, football.
Joselu is now one of La Liga’s best strikers
In two years at St James’ Park, Joselu found the net just six times in the Premier League.
Compare that to the numbers he’s produced since returning to La Liga in a cut-price £2.5 million deal two-and-a-half years ago. Chalk and cheese.
Netting his 11th of the season with a trademark poacher’s effort during Alavas’ 3-1 defeat to Elche last weekend, Joselu has now reached double figures in each of his three seasons at the Mendizorrotza.
His current tally stands at 11 in 24 games. And it’s not as if Alaves are flying high either, serving up chance after chance on a silver platter. In fact, if it wasn’t for Joselu’s ongoing purple patch, Alaves probably would have succumbed to the spectre of relegation a while ago.
For Babazorros supporters, life without Joselu doesn’t bare thinking about.
So reports suggesting that the former Real Madrid youngster is a target not only for Valencia but also Celta Vigo and a number of other clubs – with his contract expiring in July – will haunt plenty of dreams in the Basque Country between now and the end of another wearying, relegation-threatened campaign.
Can Joselu score 20 goals this season?
“I know the people want the strikers to score goals,” Joselu said back in 2019, when in the midst of another goal-drought at St James’ Park (Shields Gazette).
“Last season I missed chances but all strikers missed chances. I saw games where Cristiano Ronaldo would have 15 chances and miss 13, but score two goals. And he’s the best striker in the world!
“But I try to do my best on the pitch. I try to try. I try to score but some games it’s not like that.”
Braithwaite and De Jong had fortune on their side when Barcelona came calling. The former only joined in early 2020 following an injury crisis. The latter arrived with the club short on cash and looking for low-cost additions.
No one could accuse Joselu of getting lucky if he puts pen to paper with Valencia however. This would be a move all of his own making.
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