Josh King’s Tottenham Hotspur reservations should give Newcastle United fresh hope

Follow us on Google Discover

Bournemouth frontman Josh King may not be joining Tottenham Hotspur after all, but are Newcastle United still interested?

If you want an example of just how insane the transfer market has become, look no further than Josh King.

The 25-year-old may have had a stellar 2017 for Bournemouth, notching 13 Premier League goals since the turn of the year, but that was by far and away the only prolific spell of his entire professional career. Therefore, Tottenham Hotspur could be about to pay a whopping £30 million for a player whose name had barely registered on the shopping list of the Premier League’s big boys until the springtime of this year, as reported by The Telegraph.

King enjoyed the most prolific season of his career in 2016/17

However, it appears that it’s he, rather than Spurs, who has reservations about the move. According to Football London, King is concerned that he would be used only as a backup by Tottenham with homegrown hero Harry Kane, Premier League Golden Boot winner last season, firmly established as the club’s number one striker.

After finally becoming a first-choice top flight centre-forward for the first time in his career when Callum Wilson suffered a serious injury midway through last season, it’s understandable that King would not want to swap that to share bench warming duties with Vincent Janssen.

Therefore, if first-team football is a deciding factor in King’s potential big money move, perhaps Newcastle United should renew their interest.

Move fit for a King

The Magpies have plenty of funds left over to spend this summer, largely because their transfer plans are yet to get off the ground this summer, and The Northern Echo claimed at the end of last season that King was their first choice attacking target.

However, with Tottenham and Everton looking like the frontrunners in recent weeks, Newcastle appeared to turn their attention elsewhere as if they knew the deal was unlikely. However, further frustration over the likes of Bas Dost means Rafael Benitez is still in the market for a striker.

And reports that King has reservations about a move to North London should encourage Newcastle to make their move. After all, while Dwight Gayle netted plenty last season, he’s no Harry Kane.