Chris Sutton has said on BBC Radio 5 Live that Newcastle United will have to sign a player like former West Ham United forward Marko Arnautovic in the January transfer window.
What’s the story?
The former Chelsea striker believes that Newcastle are unlikely to attract top-quality players when the transfer window opens in January.
The BBC pundit has said that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will have to sign ‘mercenaries’.
Sutton has suggested that former West Ham United forward Arnautovic, 32, would be a player who could be tempted by a move to Newcastle.
Why?
Well, because of the salary on offer.
The Englishman has pointed out that the Austria international left West Ham for Shanghai Port in China in 2019.
The Hammers received £22.4 million as transfer fee, as reported by Sky Sports in July 2019.
Arnautovic is now back in Europe and is playing for Bologna in Serie A at the moment.
Chris Sutton’s take
Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “They will probably sign Arnautovic or someone from China. They will sign mercenaries.
“That’s what they will have to do – pay over the odds. Pay them inflated prices, inflated wages. That’s the only way in January.”
The BBC pundit added about the forward now being at Bologna: “He normally goes where the money is. He probably saw the light after he went to China to win trophies, of course.”
Does Chris Sutton have a point?
In our view, Arnautovic is not going to be a player Newcastle will look at signing in the middle of the season.
The former West Ham star is 32 now.
Moreover, the forward joined Bologna only in the summer of 2021.
But, we have to ask whether Sutton has a point about PIF having to sign ‘mercenaries’.
Newcastle are in a relegation battle at the moment, and clearly players will take that into account.
Money will be a big factor for any player willing to join Newcastle in January.
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