Newcastle take on West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Newcastle legend Les Ferdinand has told Yahoo Sport’s In On Goal that his former side’s biggest problem is the lack of a goalscorer at St. James’ Park, something which he feels the Toon have always been renowned for.
Newcastle go up against West Ham United at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as they look to end a dismal run of eight defeats in their last nine Premier League matches.
Currently sitting in the relegation zone, Rafa Benitez will be desperate to have the funds available to him to improve his side in January, but that hinges on Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners completing a deal.
Ferdinand, who played for Newcastle for two years between 1995 and 1997, also weighed in on the club’s ongoing takeover talks, which he believes are crucial to the Toon’s Premier League finish.
“What you hope for is that they get this takeover through the door before Christmas,” Ferdinand said. “If they can do that, they can give the funds to Rafa to go out and spend.
“The biggest problem he’s got is goalscoring. There are a lot of Premier League clubs that will say they need a striker, but Newcastle need one more than anything else. They’ve always been renowned for having that goalscorer, but they haven’t got that at the minute.”
Joselu was signed in the summer but he has managed just three goals all season, while Dwight Gayle has found the back of the net four times. Aleksander Mitrovic remains on the fringes, with just one Premier League goal to his name.
The Toon will be considered underdogs against the Hammers, as David Moyes’ side come into the game off the back of two wins in their last three games against Chelsea and Stoke, as well as drawing against Arsenal.
Three points for Newcastle would see them climb out of the relegation zone, if the likes of Bournemouth and Stoke above them drop points.
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