Eddie Howe had hinted at signing a striker before Saturday’s Premier League clash against Watford, and Newcastle United now have their man in Burnley star Chris Wood.
As per Sky Sports News, the Magpies have activated the New Zealand international’s release clause, valued at an estimated £20m.
On the surface, it might not seem like much. Signing an attacker from a relegation rival is hardly enthralling, let alone one from Burnley. Yet Newcastle’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) might have just pulled off one of the club’s best transfers in some time.
Wood brings goals to a Newcastle side lacking in firepower
With three Premier League goals this season, Woods has hardly been hitting the heights we usually expect from the pending Newcastle striker. But then again, Burnley’s season overall would be classified as a disappointment, with many key players underperforming.
Indeed, Wood’s overall Premier League record is rather decent. The 30-year-old has bagged 50 goals in 154 appearances in the division, a better record than the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Raul Jimenez and Newcastle cult heroes Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
In a squad bolstering the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Joe Willock and now Kieran Trippier from the wing and set-pieces, the ingredients are there for Wood to succeed under Howe at Newcastle.
Striker is a guaranteed success at Championship level
Wood could easily flourish or flop for Newcastle in the Premier League. But one thing the former Leeds United star certainly won’t do is underperform in the Championship. Which remains a real possibility for the northeast giants.
The striker had spells at the likes of Birmingham City, Millwall and Leicester City. Yet for Leeds, Wood was a menace in the second-tier, with the Kiwi bagging an incredible 27 goals in the Championship, winning him the club’s Player of the Year award as well as a place in the EFL Team of the Season.
With Newcastle still a favourite to go down this season, Wood can be a valuable player in the Championship should the worst-case scenario come to fruition. And for PIF, they should be applauded for scooping the forward from Burnley, who looks set to be a Magpies this week.
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