Newcastle United have had a tough pre-season so far this summer, but will still be hoping to make a few additions to their squad.
Newcastle United have not had the best pre-season preparations for the new Premier League season, with their most recent defeat coming at the hands of Braga, when the Magpies were beaten 4-0.
Speculation surrounding the amount of money available for Rafa Benitez to spend has been the talk of Tyneside and the Spanish manager may be forced to turn to players available for free.
However, that may not be all bad, especially with players like Bakary Sako available on a free this summer; a player who could be an excellent addition.
The 30-year-old left his former club Crystal Palace after rejecting a new contract to stay on with Roy Hodgson’s side, but he has not yet joined a club ahead of the 2018/19 season.
And the Frenchman could be exactly what Newcastle are looking for; with his ability to player either as a forward or on the wing and his impressive goal-scoring record.
The former Saint Etienne man joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012 and burst on to the scene in the Football League, scoring 36 goals in 118 appearances for the Midlands side.
Sako later joined Crystal Palace in 2015 after three years with Wolves and has scored five goals in 43 appearances for the Premier League side, most of which came from playing as a winger.
The Malian international played only 738 minutes of top-flight football last term, but still netted six goals and averaged a goal every 123 minutes, showing he is certainly worth a gamble on a free for the Magpies.
However, Newcastle do not have time on their side and the transfer window has just over one week before it slams shut, meaning Benitez will have to act quick if he and the North-East club hope to agree terms with Sako.
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