Newcastle make £40m “machine” their new no.1 goal

With Alexander Isak’s future nonetheless unresolved, Newcastle United are making ready for all times with out their Swedish talisman.

The drawn-out saga has left Eddie Howe’s aspect in pressing want of an answer, and Isak has made it clear he has no intention of reintegrating with the squad if a transfer fails to materialise earlier than the switch window closes.

That leaves Newcastle going through a race towards time, particularly with their opening Premier League fixture towards Aston Villa quick approaching and a Champions League marketing campaign on the horizon.

Their summer time enterprise to date has bolstered different areas – Anthony Elanga has arrived from Nottingham Forest, Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, and Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton on mortgage – whereas a £40m deal for Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is shut.

But Howe has admitted concern over numbers in midfield after Sean Longstaff’s sale to Leeds United and Joe Willock’s pre-season harm, and the necessity for a commanding presence up entrance is now simply as urgent.

Growth Growth Shake the Room: Newcastle determine new main goal

Different choices akin to Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Porto’s Samu Aghehowa have been mentioned, however Newcastle seem to have settled on one standout title.

A ahead whose profile attracts inevitable comparisons to one of many membership’s hottest trendy strikers.

In accordance with studies on the continent, Newcastle have recognized Jean-Philippe Mateta as their prime goal ought to Isak depart.

Owing to this curiosity and Mateta’s rising inventory, Palace have set an asking worth of round £40m to let the “goal-scoring machine” go.

Standing at 1.92m, the 28-year-old France worldwide provides a bodily profile ideally suited to the Premier League.

He arrives within the field with goal, relishes aerial duels, and may occupy defenders in a manner that opens house for these round him.

His file final season – 14 objectives and two assists in 37 Premier League appearances – displays his consistency throughout the marketing campaign, with sharp ending complemented by link-up play.

For Newcastle, his mixture of objectives, presence, and expertise on the prime stage makes him the form of striker who can immediately adapt – essential for a aspect that can’t afford a bedding-in interval so near the beginning of the season.

Shades of Salomón Rondón

It’s unimaginable to debate Mateta’s potential arrival with out drawing parallels to Salomón Rondón, who arrived at St James’ Park on mortgage from West Brom in 2018 on the identical age and in comparable circumstances.

Like Mateta, Rondón was a giant, robust centre-forward who led the road with a mix of energy, tenacity, and underrated technical potential.

Rondón’s lone season below Rafa Benítez stays some of the fondly remembered campaigns by Newcastle followers in recent times.

He scored 11 objectives in 32 league appearances, received 146 of his 380 aerial duels, and made himself a relentless outlet for lengthy balls and crosses.

His hold-up play introduced others into the sport, and his partnership with Ayoze Pérez was a driving drive behind Newcastle’s survival.

A risk from set items and a defensive presence when known as upon, making 38 clearances from such conditions.

His inventive contribution was notable too, registering six assists and sometimes offering the ultimate ball after holding off a number of defenders.

That each one-round impression noticed him named Newcastle’s Participant of the Yr in 2019, the primary ahead to win the award since Alan Shearer in 2003.

Mateta provides the same talent set.

In accordance with FBref, he ranks within the 72nd percentile for progressive carries per 90 (1.53), 77th percentile for non-penalty anticipated objectives per shot (0.18), and 68th percentile for passes into the ultimate third (1.16).

Maybe most impressively, he sits within the 94th percentile for profitable take-ons that lead on to a objective (0.10 per 90), exhibiting that for all his bodily energy, he additionally has the technical talent to beat his man and create decisive moments.

Whereas Rondón thrived on Benítez’s structured method, Mateta may gain advantage from Howe’s faster, extra transition-heavy type.

Utilizing his body to win duels excessive up the pitch and his mobility to get on the top of cutbacks from the likes of Gordon and Elanga.

The timing is one other echo of 2018. Again then, Newcastle wanted a ready-made ahead to fit in and ship immediately.

Now, with Isak seemingly decided to dig his heels in and the season about to start, the requirement is simply as pressing.

Mateta’s expertise within the Premier League means he might hit the bottom operating, avoiding the variation interval typically wanted for strikers arriving from overseas.

At £40m, he can be a big funding, however one that might pay rapid dividends in objectives and bodily presence.

For a membership aiming to compete on a number of fronts, having a striker who can shoulder the attacking burden might make all of the distinction.

If Howe does get his man, Newcastle supporters would possibly as soon as once more discover themselves cheering for a quantity 9 whose mix of objectives and graft embodies the membership’s preventing spirit.