The Magpies’ squad is fairly strong already but the Premier League will test them to their limits.
Relegation isn’t so bad after all. While allowing the fans to explore new stadiums far and wide, not to mention experience that winning feeling on a more regular basis, Rafael Benitez has been handed the benefit of scouring the lower leagues for talent at close quarters.
But which Championship stand-outs should he consider taking with him to the Premier League?
Nahki Wells
When you hail from Bermuda, you’ve got to expect a few pitiable jokes when you have the odd anonymous performance. And, yes, Wells has been accused of going missing at times this season and his recent declaration that he is not angling for a January departure from the John Smiths stadium would have elicited a rather mixed response for fans of Huddersfield Town.
On one side, Wells’ form is crucial to The Terriers ambitious promotion hopes though, on the other, £8 million for a player with just 5 goals in 21 Championship games in 2016/17 seems too good to turn down, per The Telegraph.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old may be content to spurn the advances of Norwich and Bristol City, six and 12 places worse off than Huddersfield, but an offer from the league-leading Magpies would be a different prospect entirely. A quick, clinical striker in the Dwight Gayle mould, Benitez could do with another centre-forward with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Daryl Murphy hardly catching his eye and Wells fits his specifications rather well.
Scott Hogan
Only the prolific Gayle looks like preventing Scott Hogan from running away with the Golden Boot this season. And while Newcastle’s prolific number nine has the advantage of Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie loading the ammunition, Hogan has found the net 13 times for a Brentford side mired in mid-table. In fact, the 24-year-old has netted almost half of his club’s 2016/17 total.
According to the Irish Sun, Aston Villa are readying a £9 million offer in January and, while excessive, that transfer fee would get you a reliable goalscorer who hit the ground running after a prolonged period on the sidelines with a cruciate ligament injury. And you can never have enough goalscorers.
Anthony Knockaert
There’s a reason Bayern Munich are hated so vociferously in Germany. After all, FC Hollywood have made something of a habit of snatching their title rivals most valued assets and adding them to their already star-studded, mint-condition collection.
And, while Newcastle’s ambitions might not be quite as calculated, Brighton certainly wouldn’t be breathing down their neck in second if Anthony Knockaert was wearing black and white this season.
Newcastle had a £6 million rejected by both player and club in the summer, according to The Mirror, but if The Seagulls fail to migrate into the top flight alongside The Magpies, the dazzling French winger might find their offer a little more tempting.
Martin Olsson
In an era where any mention of the modern left-back conjures up images of Marcelo whipping delightful balls onto the head of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jordi Alba tearing apart opposition backlines with his perfectly timed overlaps, it’s fair to say Paul Dummett doesn’t quite fit in.
The Welsh international may be solid but he’s far from spectacular, without a single assist to his name across his league career. Therefore, Newcastle fans are crying out for a newbie to provide an alternative attacking option and Norwich’s lightning-powered Olsson fits the bill perfectly.
The Swedish international has history against Newcastle, his 93rd minute winner in a 3-2 Norwich win late last season contributing heavily to The Magpies’ relegation. It’s time to make amends.
Robbie Brady
Why Robbie Brady is still playing Championship football is anyone’s guess. If more of Norwich players had demonstrated the same levels of consistency, let alone quality, then Alex Neil’s side might not have suffered immediate relegation last season. Furthermore, the Republic of Ireland international’s stand-out performances at Euro 2016, capped by a late winner against Italy, only ramped up the speculation that he would fly the Carrow Road nest in the summer.
However, midway through the season, Brady looks no closer to an exit although Aston Villa have been linked with a big money swoop, per the Birmingham Mail.
A potential upgrade on Dummett at left-back or a consistent alternative to the erratic Christian Atsu on the wing, the former Manchester United youngster’s versatility is likely to appeal to Benitez while his trademark crossing and pinpoint dead-balls could finally give Mitrovic something to work with.
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