Newcastle United wanted Javier Hernandez, according to Alan Shearer.
Alan Shearer has said on BBC’s Match of the Day program, broadcast on December 23, that Javier Hernandez and Tammy Abraham were set to join Newcastle United last summer but manager Rafael Benitez had to pull the plug on the deal.
Newcastle have endured a poor first season back in the Premier League and picked up a first win in nine games yesterday by beating West Ham 3-2 in London.
It lifted the Magpies out of the relegation zone but they are far from safe this season and you get the feeling that their survival might hinge on whether Benitez finds a top-drawer striker in the January transfer window.
The Spanish manager doesn’t have a lot to work with up front, with Aleksandar Mitrovic, Dwight Gayle and £5 million summer signing Joselu netting seven Premier League goals between them thiss eason.
Joselu has been very underwhelming following his move from Stoke City, netting three goals in 17 games, but Newcastle legend Shearer claims that he was signed after moves for Abraham and Hernandez fell through.
“He [Benitez] wanted to bring players in,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day program, broadcast on December 23.
“I know he had Javier Hernandez and Tammy Abraham ready to come in, those deals were pulled at the last minute, which is why he had to spend £5m on Joselu.”
Benitez was said to be frustrated with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley for withholding significant transfer funds, forcing him to sign bargain-basement strikers like Joselu, who isn’t actually a bargain despite his price-tag.
United were heavily linked with Abraham, who snubbed the Magpies and joined Swansea City on loan from Chelsea, but there wasn’t as much speculation about Hernandez, who wound up joining West Ham United in a £16 million deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
Between them, they have only managed eight Premier League goals from a combined 32 games, so it’s not a fantastic return.
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