Well, Mauro Icardi has become the first big-name player to be linked with a move to Newcastle United.
According to Calciomercato in Italy, the super-rich Magpies are keen on the Paris Saint-Germain hitman.
With Newcastle’s owners boasting a fortune of £320 billion after their successful takeover this week, far bigger players will be linked with moves to St James’s Park in time.
But to get the ball rolling at Newcastle, Icardi would be the perfect first addition.
Ideal
One reason why he is perfect is because it’s a realistic signing
This is a 28-year-old striker in the prime of his career, but Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe’s presence in Paris means he’ll never be one of PSG’s heavy hitters.
In other words, you probably wouldn’t have to twist Icardi’s arm too much to leave the French capital, where he was never going to be a leading figure in their project due to the competition.
At Newcastle though, he’ll be a far bigger player than he is in Ligue 1 and that could also make him want to ply his trade in England.
Another reason why he is ideal is because, as mentioned, he is in the prime of his career.
The Argentine, who netted 29 goals in 34 Serie A games in his second-to-last season at Inter Milan, is absolutely lethal on his day and well capable of firing Newcastle up the Premier League table, particularly with someone like Allan Saint-Maximin feeding him.
Robinho-esque
Robinho was Manchester City’s first signing after their takeover of 2008 – a player who wasn’t quite world class, but certainly helped the team on and off the pitch – in terms of a raised profile – and did enough to help them on their way.
Icardi isn’t world class and he never will be, but he’s far better than Callum Wilson and more than good enough to get the Magpies into the conversation for Champions League qualification and trophies, which will be the short-term goal.
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