Newcastle United are expected to be extremely busy during the summer transfer window.
Micky Gray
Former Sunderland star Micky Gray spoke exclusively to talkSPORT today, and offered some transfer advice for the Magpies, urging them to sign Liverpool hitman Daniel Sturridge, if they want to avoid getting relegated straight back to the Championship.
Rafa Benitez has managed to guide Newcastle through what has been a tumultuous campaign in England’s notoriously difficult second tier, and they secured their place back in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory over Preston North-End at St James’ Park last night.
The Spaniard will obviously have to strengthen his squad accordingly during the summer transfer window, however, if he is to keep the Toon in and amongst England’s elite band of clubs.
And Gray, who spent 12 years with Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland, told talkSPORT how, by signing Sturridge, Newcastle will guarantee their Premier League survival next term:
“Newcastle would snap your hands off right now for somebody like Daniel Sturridge. He is a goalscorer who is going to get you 15, 20 goals a season. They might only get 25 to 30 games out of him at a push but those 15, 20 goals will keep you in the Premier League for another season. They should absolutely go and get him.”
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge
The 27-year-old England international’s talent is beyond question, but his injury record is less than impressive, and bringing the Liverpool man to St James’ Park would not be without risk.
His goal scoring record is hard to ignore, however. During his time on Merseyside he has scored 45 goals in 85 Premier League appearances, with 25 of those outings coming from the substitutes bench.
There are plenty of pros and cons that Benitez would have to weigh up before moving for Sturridge, but if he did sign him, and he went on to score 20 goals in the league, he could turn out to be one of the best signings of the Spaniard’s career.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge speaks
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