Burnley did not enter talks to sign Sardar Azmoun though a former Zenit St Petersburg coach thinks the striker could still end up in the Premier League with Newcastle United, as reported by Championat.
At the risk of stating the obvious, a prolific goalscorer is often the difference between survival and failure.
Throughout most of last season, Fulham played a more exciting, more eye-catching brand of football than an often turgid Newcastle United.
But Steve Bruce had a number nine to pin his hopes upon (Callum Wilson, 12 goals). Scott Parker did not.
If the shoe was on the other foot, if Wilson had joined Fulham rather than Newcastle, would the Cottagers still be a top-flight team?
It is no coincidence that, of the five lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League this season, four of them currently reside between 17th and 20th. You can expect Burnley and Newcastle to be rather busy, then, between now and February 1.
Who will replace Chris Wood at Burnley?
The Express claimed last week that bottom-of-the-table Burnley had submitted a £10 million bid for Azmoun as Sean Dyche steps up his pursuit of a Chris Wood replacement.
Azmoun has agreed a deal to join Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen in the summer instead, however. And, according to Zenit’s CEO, the Iran international was never on his way to Turf Moor anyway.
“There are no negotiations with Burnley,” Alexander Medvedev explains to Soccer RU.
Newcastle triggered Wood’s £25 million release clause earlier this month, easing the burden on Callum Wilson’s shoulders while delivering a major blow to their relegation rivals in the process.
Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
Wood hardly feels like a long-term solution to Eddie Howe’s goalscoring problems, though, instead resembling something of a short-term quick-fix.
Albeit a very expensive one.
“The move to Bayer for Azmoun is super,” beams former Zenit coach Vlastimil Petrzela, who previously tipped the former Rubin Kazan forward to join Arsenal.
“But it will be very difficult for him because (Patrik) Schick, one of the best scorers in the Bundesliga, plays in the team.
“If Azmoun proves himself, then the Bundesliga is just a transitional option. Mark my words: in a year he will play in the Premier League. Playing in England is the dream of every football player.
“Serdar would be useful to Newcastle.”
Azmoun, who scored 10 goals in 21 games this season, admitted in September that he had received ‘an offer’ over Tottenham Hotspur over the summer. Zenit, however, refused to let him go at the time.
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