Despite previous disappointments, Newcastle United should not defeat with Bas Dost

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The Sporting Lisbon striker appears made for Newcastle United.

The two names at the top of the 2011/12 Eredivisie goalscoring charts will resonate with fans of Newcastle United. In second place, on 25 goals, FC Twente’s technically gifted targetman Luuk De Jong (above). The younger brother of Siem, the striker endured 12 goalless loan appearances on Tyneside three seasons later.

At the top of the charts, however, cruising to the Golden Boot with 32 strikes, was a rising star by the name of Bas Dost. It’s a name that will be familiar to Newcastle. After all, they have been linked with the Dutchman almost ever since, The Chronicle reports.

According to the Daily Mirror, The Magpies were weighing up a £9 million bid for the 6ft 5ins forward all the way back in 2015 following a prolific end to his third Bundesliga season with Wolfsburg.

Netting 14 times in just nine games from winter to spring, Dost suddenly transformed from a limited, ill-fitting targetman in a technical frontline to a poacher extraordinaire. Aided by the on-the-money deliveries of Kevin De Bruyne, Daniel Caliguri, Ricardo Rodriguez and co, he was one of Europe’s most versatile hitman, capable of scoring from any angle, with any body part.

Consequently, it was no surprise that Newcastle renewed their interest last summer, according to The Chronicle.

And, with doubts surrounding the future of Aleksandar Mitrovic, it would be no surprise if Newcastle were to attempt to make it third time lucky this summer. Since moving to Sporting Lisbon rather than The Magpies, Dost has continued to thrive. In fact, he’s more prolific than ever.

With 24 goals in 23 league games, he is nine goals clear of Porto prodigy Andre Silva at the top of the Liga Nos scoring charts and, according to WhoScored, he has also earned seven Man of the Match awards.

Newcastle’s overreliance on Dwight Gayle remains a concern ahead of their Premier League return. But, based on statistics alone, this is the summer they should finally end the wait for the flying Dutchman.