Newcastle United were keen on signing Hull City starlet Jarrod Bowen during the January transfer window, according to reports.
It was reported earlier this week by Uruguayan outlet Ovacion that Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is now eyeing a summer move for Hull City striker Abel Hernandez as he prepares his Magpies squad for a second campaign in the Premier League.
Hernandez is out of contract in the summer and boasts a frightening strike-rate for the campaign with eight goals coming in his 10 appearances for the Tigers in the Championship. If he could replicate anything like that form at the highest level, a free transfer has the potential to be a stroke of genius from Benitez.
Despite being a potential free transfer, it would still arguably be a gamble given that Hernandez has spent much of the season out with injury and has not exactly been prolific at the highest level this term.
Perhaps, therefore, Newcastle should consider going back in for one of his teammates after being linked with a move in January before they consider a move for the Uruguay international in the coming months.
The 21-year-old winger tops Hull’s goalscoring charts with 14 goals to his name. And although most of those goals came during the first-half of the season, it is clear that he is a player with an enormous amount of potential and a move to the Premier League is going to happen at some stage in the future.
Signing Hernandez may be the better move for next season – both financially and in terms of immediate returns for Newcastle’s first-team – but Bowen appears to be a real talent whose value is going to increase with each window that passes. Perhaps now is the time to focus their attention on the youngster rather than the forward, who would still be a risky signing.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
