Reports from Italy in October linked Newcastle United with a move for Lorenzo Insigne.
The Napoli star is out of contract with the Serie A side next summer and come January, there’s going to be a lot of interest in the 30-year-old.
And if Newcastle are genuinely in the race, it’s a signing that could potentially transform Joelinton’s fortunes in the Premier League.
Six goals in 79 Premier League appearances might suggest that the Brazilian striker has flopped at St James’s Park.
And considering he cost £40 million, he has flopped. No two ways about it.
If we know anything about the 25-year-old it’s that he isn’t going to make chances for himself.
Like most strikers, Joelinton can only eat what he is being fed and in Insigne, Newcastle have a target who could provide a buffet for the big man every weekend.
Buffet
That’s because the Italian has created a whopping 24 goalscoring chances from only 11 Serie A games this season.
For context, that’s the second most of any player in Italy this season.
Joelinton has never been a goal machine and Newcastle fans might laugh at the idea of him ever being one.
But with the sort of supply that Insigne can provide, the former Hoffenheim hitman could be so much better than he is.
The truth is, Newcastle haven’t exactly been England’s answer to Barcelona these past few years – not in terms of style or chances created.
But now they have a manager – Eddie Howe – who will demand a lot more in an attacking sense and if someone like Insigne winds up being signed, those two factors could be a gamechanger for Joelinton.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
