Newcastle have been linked with a move for Frankfurt striker Sebastien Haller.
Newcastle United’s need for a striker is still not over despite bringing in Islam Slimani on loan from Leicester City, as the Algerian only remains on loan at St. James’ Park until the summer.
Rafa Benitez will surely be drawing up a shortlist of strikers for the 2018-19 season if he can keep the Toon in the Premier League, with a permanent deal for Slimani way too early to consider.
The former Sporting Lisbon target man should not be his only choice, with the powerful ace third choice in January after Benitez failed in bids for Nicolai Jorgensen and Daniel Sturridge.
It has been reported that Newcastle and West Ham are interested in Frankfurt goal machine Sebastien Haller, who has a price tag of £26.4million after ripping up the Bundesliga to push his side into a lofty sixth place.
Joining the German side from FC Utrecht in the summer, Haller has scored an impressive 12 goals in 23 league and cup outings as well as adding five assists in that time.
His price tag is a hefty one, but Haller should be at the top of Benitez’s summer shortlist as his 6ft 2in frame and aerial prowess has caused Bundesliga defenders a whole host of problems throughout the 2017-18 season.
It would see him fit right at home in the Newcastle side, as Benitez has continued to adopt more of a long-ball style in recent matches – which was on show against Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Slimani boasts height and power, but he has struggled since his move to one of the top European leagues in the Premier League. Haller, though, has thrived on it after moving to the Bundesliga from Holland.
Benitez must do all he can to convince Mike Ashley, or indeed Newcastle’s new owners should there be a new board in place by the summer, to splash out and meet Haller’s asking price – he would be the answer to Newcastle’s woes.
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