Newcastle United were linked with the Italian in the summer but he has now committed his future to Sheffield Wednesday.
On the other side of Christmas, Newcastle United’s squad was frequently hailed as the strongest ever assembled in the second tier. Now, after two defeats in three Championship fixtures, allowing Brighton to usurp them at the top of the table, the tune has changed.
The absence of Jonjo Shelvey through suspension has highlighted the alarming lack of creativity within the Magpies’ midfield while Matt Ritchie, Yoan Gouffran, Christian Atsu, Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic, despite impressing in fits and bursts, have scored just 17 between them all season.
Therefore, it is tempting to wonder whether this mid-season slump would have occurred if Rafa Benitez could call upon one of the league’s most effective attacking all-rounders.
The Daily Star claim that Newcastle were interested in Sheffield Wednesday’s then-wantaway star Fernando Forestieri in the summer, with speculation intensifying after he was omitted from the squad ahead of an August fixture with Norwich.
Five months later, however, the rumours have come to nothing. In fact, as reported bvy Sky Sports, the Italian has now signed a contract extension until 2020 with the Hillsborough club, meaning he will not be dancing through defences at St James’ Park any time soon.
Although Newcastle could do with his creativity and clinical edge right now.
With six Championship goals, he has outscored all but one of the Magpies’ squad, not to mention his three assists, a tally only Ritchie and Shelvey can better.
The 26-year-old may not have been a guaranteed starter at St James’ but, with recent fixtures highlighting Newcastle’s lack of quality in reserve, Benitez will surely wish he could call on the considerable talents of a player whose 15 goals last season almost inspired Wednesday to the Premier League.
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