Newcastle are likely to be in the market for a new striker.
Whether or not Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners complete a takeover of Newcastle before the January transfer window commences in just over a fortnight, Rafa Benitez will be after a striker.
Joselu has struggled to find his goalscoring touch at St. James’ Park, finding the back of the net just three times since his summer move from Stoke City with the Toon managing just 16 goals in 17 top-flight outings.
BBC Sport reported that Staveley had met with current owner Mike Ashley for the first time after she had upped her bid to £300million, a fee that is believed to be Ashley’s asking price for the ownership of the club.
But either way, the fact that Newcastle need a striker remains. It has seen Benitez already linked with the likes of Richmond Boakye, Michy Batshuayi and Fernando Torres.
A new name could now appear on his shortlist, after former Toon speed machine Seydou Doumbia reminded fans just what he is capable of with a sublime hat-trick for Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night.
The 29-year-old has been in and out of Sporting’s side this season but he put Portuguese minnows Vilaverdense to the sword in the cup, with three well-taken goals in a 4-0 win.
Ivory Coast international Doumbia struggled in a short loan spell at St. James’ Park, joining the Toon on a temporary basis during the second half of the 2015-16 season. He made just three appearances for the Magpies, without scoring.
But it seems as though the journeyman striker, who has turned out for the likes of Roma, CSKA Moscow and FC Basel, has rediscovered his goalscoring touch with five goals in 14 outings for Sporting this season.
Currently on loan in Portugal from Roma, Doumbia is behind the likes of Gelson Martins and Bas Dost in the pecking order but Newcastle should convince Roma to cancel the loan and make a move for the Ivorian in January.
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