Newcastle have been given the opportunity to sign on-loan Roma forward Nikola Kalinic in the January window, according to reports.
Il Corriere report (via the Daily Mail) that the Kalinic could sign for the club as his role looks to become redundant in Rome while they look for another forward.
It’s been a bit of a disaster spell for the 31-year-old in Italy. On loan from Atletico Madrid, he has featured on just six occasions in both the league and the Europa League, not starting once in Serie A.
It is said that Kalinic has already snubbed both Verona and Genoa for his next month, and it is said that the Magpies have an interest, but it is unknown whether he would opt to join the Premier League side.
One thing is for sure: Kalinic’s future at Roma looks to be coming to an end. The same report suggests that Mariano Diaz from Real Madrid could be set to join Roma on a loan deal, which will subsequently pave the way for Kalinic to move on from the Stadio Olimpico.
Would Nikola Kalinic be a good signing?
No. We have to be more ambitious
It's a good short term option
Yes he would be a great bit of business
With the Croatian forward now aged 31, it is not the most inspiring of signings, though that’s not to say he couldn’t do a good job at the club.
Obviously to get a move to a side such as Atletico Madrid and then Roma you have to have something about you, and that he does.
In his last season playing as an absolute regular, he managed to score 20 goals in 42 games for Fiorentina in the 16/17 campaign, which is obviously a fantastic return. Since then, he has had bopped around some bigger clubs and has had to play a bit part. He scored six goals in 41 for Milan in the 17/18 season, though 18 of those games he came on from the bench. With Atleti last year, he scored just four in 24, but similarly, he was having to settle mainly for bench appearances.
For Toon, it wouldn’t be a bad bit of business. His goal record over the past few years is hardly exciting, however, he has the ability to hold the ball up really well and his link-up play is one of his greatest abilities, which is all the more important in a 5-4-1.