Newcastle have made Watford’s Troy Deeney a priority signing in January but should they be aiming higher?
Troy Deeney of Watford controls the ball under pressure from James Tomkins of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park.
Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is an admirer of Deeney and views the striker as the ideal signing to aid an attack that has scored just 20 goals in 22 matches so far this season in the Premier League. Only four sides have netted fewer.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez during the Premier League match against Stoke City.
The future of the 29-year-old with the Hornets has come into question this season with the skipper failing to hold down a regular starting place under boss Marco Silva.
However, is Deeney really the sort of player Newcastle should be targeting if they want to bolster their options upfront?
Since he came into the English top flight with the Hertfordshire side back in 2015, the Englishman has scored 25 goals in 88 matches at a rate of one ever 3.5 games – a solid but unremarkable record.
Troy Deeney celebrates scoring the first Watford goal from the penalty spot with Andre Carrillo during the Premier League match against Manchester United.
Looking at this campaign alone Deeney has only managed two strikes in 13 league appearances, although many of those have come from the substitutes bench.
Not only that but the attacker will be 30 in June and therefore his best years, certainly at the highest level, may well be behind him. Deeney is not a bad player but should the Toon be aiming higher?
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