Joselu would have struggled to hit a barndoor with a double bass, let alone a banjo, during his miserable two year spell at Newcastle United.
In 52 games, the Spanish striker found the net just seven times; More Stephane Guivarc’h than Alan Shearer at a club where mediocrity had long since taken hold.
But, like Adam Armstrong, Ivan Toney and the Europa League-winning Luuk de Jong, Joselu has enjoyed a new lease of life since leaving St James’ Park behind.
So much so that the £2.5 million fee required to take him to Alaves in the summer of 2019 now looks a bargain that would get even Tim Wonnacott flustered.
In two seasons at the Mendizorrotza, Joselu has scored 22 goals.
In fact, Joselu almost single-handedly dragged Alaves out of the relegation zone during the final few weeks of the campaign just gone, and could now be rewarded with a big-money move to one of the biggest clubs in the country.
“For us, Sevilla is the best option. Joselu is clear that he wants to leave Deportivo Alaves this summer, but we know that it will not be easy,” the striker’s agent tells Sevilla ABC.
“The player tells me that he wants to leave the club because he believes that his time there has ended. We want to get out of there.
“We are talking with Sevilla and we are going to see what can be done with all this.”
The report claims that Joselu has an £18 million release clause in his contract.
It remains to be seen whether a Sevilla side who qualified for the Champions League last season, all the while securing a record La Liga points haul of 77, are willing to pay quite so much for a player who turned 31 in March.
Either way, Newcastle fans may be left asking themselves those same old questions.
Was a player who struggled so badly in black and white managed correctly? Did he get the service he required? Was he sold too early?
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