Newcastle United’s seek for a brand new striker has intensified because the switch window enters its decisive levels.
The membership are locked in a fancy state of affairs involving Alexander Isak, who has made it clear he has no intention of reintegrating into Eddie Howe’s squad.
The Swede has not featured in both of Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixtures and has refused to coach, citing damaged guarantees and a need for change.
With no recognised quantity 9, the Magpies have seemed blunt in assault.
In opposition to Aston Villa and Liverpool, Newcastle created alternatives however lacked a scientific edge, with makeshift ahead Anthony Gordon even seeing pink within the latter fixture.
That dismissal leaves William Osula as the one accessible striker, underlining the urgency of the state of affairs.
Newcastle line up transfer for brand new striker goal
Eddie Howe’s males have moved for a number of targets already this summer season.
Bids for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen have been rejected, whereas they’re additionally now monitoring Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth.
With Liverpool circling round Isak, the membership have turned to the continent for options.
In accordance with reviews in Italy, through Sport Witness, intermediaries try to engineer a deal between Newcastle United and AS Roma for Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk.
The Magpies are stated to have proposed a dry mortgage, although Roma are holding agency: they need both a everlasting sale or ensures {that a} deal will finally be made everlasting.
Villarreal are additionally within the ahead. The Spanish aspect, having agreed a £26m deal to promote winger Yeremy Pino to Crystal Palace, have the funds accessible to pursue Dovbyk, although they too have solely supplied a mortgage association.
Roma are demanding round €30m (£25m) for the 28-year-old, who joined from Girona final summer season.
Why Dovbyk might be a greater match than Sørloth
Dovbyk scored 12 targets and registered three assists in 32 Serie A appearances throughout his debut season in Italy, following on from a outstanding last marketing campaign in Spain the place he fired Girona into the Champions League with 24 targets and eight assists.
The Ukrainian worldwide has 36 caps and 11 targets for his nation and has drawn reward from some high-profile figures.
Former Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool and Italy ahead Mario Balotelli lately remarked: “When it comes to model, I might say he’s much like Haaland.”
With Isak unwilling to return and Callum Wilson having left for West Ham after his contract expired, the Magpies are in need of choices.
Dovbyk is now seen as one of the crucial viable replacements to fill the void and provides Howe the focus his system calls for.
The arrival of a brand new quantity 9 at St James’ Park has been a urgent subject for months, and far of the dialog has centred on whether or not Newcastle ought to prioritise Dovbyk or one other outstanding goal: Sørloth.
Sørloth, who loved a prolific marketing campaign with Atlético Madrid final season, netted 20 targets and provided two assists throughout 35 La Liga appearances.
The 29-year-old Norwegian stands taller than Dovbyk’s 1.89 at 1.95m and has intensive worldwide expertise, with 63 caps and 24 targets for his nation.
His type in Spain has reignited his status following a disappointing spell within the Premier League with Crystal Palace, the place he failed to attain in 16 appearances.
By comparability, Dovbyk is barely youthful at 28 and has demonstrated consistency in two of Europe’s prime leagues.
His file for Girona marked him out as one of the crucial deadly strikers in La Liga, and his transition to Serie A noticed him proceed to contribute usually.
For Newcastle, that monitor file of adaptation might be essential within the Premier League. A statistical comparability between the 2 highlights the variations of their taking part in kinds.
Stats – 2024/25 |
||
---|---|---|
Stat |
Sørloth |
Dovbyk |
Matches Performed |
35 |
32 |
Objectives |
20 |
12 |
Assists |
2 |
2 |
Progressive Carries |
32 |
24 |
Progressive Passes |
31 |
16 |
Supply: FBref |
Sørloth’s numbers showcase his quantity taking pictures and skill to dominate video games as a goal man.
In accordance with FBref, he registered 4.48 pictures per 90 final season with Atlético in comparison with Dovbyk’s 2.27, and scored 19 non-penalty targets in comparison with Dovbyk’s ten.
His taking pictures accuracy was additionally increased, with 51.3% of makes an attempt hitting the goal towards Dovbyk’s 41%.
Nevertheless, Dovbyk edges his rival in different areas. He’s extra environment friendly in possession, finishing 74.1% of his passes in comparison with Sørloth’s 63.8%, and averages extra shot-creating actions per 90 (1.94 to 1.73).
He’s additionally much less reliant on sheer quantity, along with his ten non-penalty targets final season coming from an anticipated targets determine of 10.3 – suggesting he converts possibilities on the price they’re anticipated, with out overperforming.
Sørloth, against this, scored 19 from 16.0 anticipated targets, hinting at a probably unsustainable degree of ending.
Stylistically, Dovbyk gives Newcastle a profile nearer to Isak’s. He can hyperlink play, function as a focus, and mix technical high quality with aerial presence. Sørloth, in the meantime, offers sheer firepower.
His 22 purpose involvements outweigh Dovbyk’s 14, however his reliance on excessive taking pictures quantity could elevate issues about sustainability in a league the place area is more durable to search out.
For Newcastle, the choice may come right down to steadiness. They require not simply targets, however a striker who enhances their urgent sport and fluid attacking model. Dovbyk’s mix of technical ability, physicality, and flexibility suggests he would be the extra appropriate long-term possibility, notably if Isak departs for Liverpool.