Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media to reports by The Sun, claiming Steve Bruce hopes that Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to AC Milan could help the Toon land Krzysztof Piatek.
Ibrahimovic re-joined Milan at the age of 38 as a free agent earlier this month following his decision to leave MLS franchise LA Galaxy, and agreed to sign a six-month deal with the Italian outfit he scored 56 goals in all competitions for between 2010 and ’12.
The Swedish giant made a goalscoring comeback last Friday, too, having contributed a goal and an assist as Milan thumped sixth-tier side Rhodense 9-0 in a friendly.
Piatek’s place in manager Stefano Pioli’s plans at the San Siro is now potentially at risk with Ibrahimovic’s return, and Bruce is said to be hopeful that it leads to the Polish forward moving to St. James’ Park this month.
The club are believed to be in talks with Milan over a deal for Piatek, whom they signed from Genoa in the summer for £30.9million and has scored 15 goals in 38 games across all competitions since his initial arrival on loan last January.
Do we have a chance at signing Piatek on loan?
Yes
No
Bruce has money to spend on the right players this month, should they become available, though would prefer to make a deal with the Rossoneri to bring Piatek to England initially on loan but with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Making the transfer happen would also allow Dwight Gayle to secure a transfer elsewhere, having played just 150 minutes in black and white under Bruce.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to the reports of Bruce targeting AC Milan’s Piatek in a loan-to-buy deal, and hoping that Ibrahimovic could lend the Magpies a helping hand…
He is one of the best young strikers in Europe so this is clearly trash
— Chris Thompson (@tomapony) January 6, 2020
I’m reading Brucey and Ibrahimovic on the same line!
— €яï$ (@erisjemadi) January 6, 2020
Why would he come to us? I think he’d rather sit on the bench at Milan 😂
— jonny greener (@Jonny_G87) January 5, 2020
Would be a very good signing imo..👍🏻
— Paul Sutcliffe (@PaulSutcliffe80) January 5, 2020
Dreamland
— Kevin McKenna (@caoimhin85) January 5, 2020
Piatek…yeah in our dreams
— James Nye (@jamesnye9) January 5, 2020
1 hes head coach. 2 I guarantee hes doing none of the talking.
— BillyNellisV2 (@BillyNellisV2) January 5, 2020
Need to keep Gayle for the championship next season
— Dan Willan (@DanWillan1984) January 5, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, a £2.7m-rated Magpies man has been linked with a January move away.