LIVE
...

Follow us on

Soccer News

Reportedly scouted by Newcastle last year, Benitez must now consider Aaron Olanare

Aaron Olanare of PFC CSKA Moscow in action during the Russian Football League match between FC Tosno Leningrad Oblast and PFC CSKA Moscow at Petrov...
Follow us on Google Discover

Recent Newcastle target Aaron Olanare is available for free.

Sergei Ignashevich (L) of PFC CSKA Moscow is challenged by Aaron Olanare of FC Amkar Perm during the Russian Premier League match between PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Amkar Perm at the VEB Arena...

With just one point in their first four Premier League games, Newcastle United haven’t exactly enjoyed the best start to the campaign, with many blaming a poor transfer window.

Boss Rafael Benitez wasn’t able to bring in the signings he wanted, and that has resulted in defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as a 0-0 draw at Cardiff City.

Newcastle landed five permanent signings and two loans over the summer, and if Benitez wants to strengthen his thin squad before the January transfer window opens, he will have to look to free agents.

With Salomon Rondon and Joselu as his main strikers, leaving Ayoze Perez and Yoshinori Muto to work in the No. 10 role, another forward could yet aid Newcastle, who have scored just three goals this term.

Intriguingly, one recent Newcastle target is available for nothing, after CSKA Moscow decided to release striker Aaron Olanare last month, meaning he can move on outside of the transfer window.

Olanare, 24, was watched by Newcastle in a Champions League clash in September of last year according to Sport-Russia, with the Nigerian forward allegedly on the Magpies radar.

CSKA Moskva«s forward Aaron Olanare from Nigeria during SL Benfica v CSKA Moskva - UEFA Champions League round one match at Estadio da Luz on September 12, 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal.

A strong forward with two goals in seven caps for Nigeria, Olanare had prolific spells with Sarpsborg and Guangzhou R&F, before finding the net just four times in 28 games for CSKA, and he spent the second half of last season on loan with Amkar Perm.

Having watched him last season, Newcastle and Benitez should be well aware that Olanare is now available for nothing – and they may see some untapped potential in a striker who has found the net before, but last his way in Russia.

Newcastle’s 25-man squad already being submitted means that he wouldn’t be available for Premier League action, but landing him for free and build up his fitness for January may just make Olanare a cheap gamble worth taking.

Aaron Olanare of PFC CSKA Moscow in action during the Russian Football League match between FC Tosno Leningrad Oblast and PFC CSKA Moscow at Petrovsky Stadium on August 9, 2017 in Saint...