Loads of Newcastle United fans have been going crazy on social media, after the Chronicle linked Steve Bruce’s Magpies with Atlanta United striker Josef Martinez.
Writing in a Q&A for the Chronicle website, Chief Newcastle Writer Lee Ryder claimed that Head of Recruitment Steve Nickson ‘has definitely scouted’ Martinez, and that the club have continued to monitor the 26-year-old.
Martinez has been a goalscoring machine since he left Europe for Major League Soccer in 2017, with 88 goals in 100 appearances for Atlanta – including 33 in 39 matches over the 2019 season in all competitions.
Atlanta reached the Conference Finals of the MLS Cup in 2019 thanks to Martinez’s goals, though could not repeat their successes of 2018 when the Venezuelan and Miguel Almiron took the American top-flight by storm.
The pair combined for eight goals in 2018 on route to lifting the MLS Cup, with Almiron assisting four of Martinez’s league-high 35 goals and the former BSC Young Boys and Torino striker returning the favour of four occasions.
Would you back a move for Martinez?
Yes
No
Martinez’s performances on route to the title helped the 51-cap international earn a new contract at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium worth $3million a year (£43,934-per-week), and saw the Five Stripes slap a staggering $40m (£30.4m) asking price on the forward.
Newcastle’s offence are in need of another goalscoring striker, with Bruce’s current centre-forward options only responsible for one of our 24 goals in 24 Premier League games.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Ryder linking United with an interest in Atlanta star Martinez…
Martinez would be lethal.
— Callum McKenzie (@CalMck10) January 22, 2020
just get martinez and win champions league next season
— lucas1337 (@30kglucas) January 22, 2020
Martinez would be a huge addition
— aDaM T (@Tiley11) January 22, 2020
Martinez needs to get here ASAP 😫
— Joe Mercer (@joemercer1989) January 22, 2020
PLEASEEEEEE JOSEF COMEE TO PAPA MIGUEL
— 🇧🇷 (@JoeLintoNUFC) January 22, 2020
YES YES YES YES!!!!!!
— Matt Plews (@Matt_Plews) January 22, 2020
Get Martinez!imagine almiron and Martinez again.
— MSW (@Toonattics) January 22, 2020
Martinez pic.twitter.com/2xvkPwUsEv
— Rafa (@Rafatovelo) January 22, 2020
Martinez. Yes Please. pic.twitter.com/3tiLbiO7im
— Shevas (@ShevasNUFC) January 22, 2020
YES MARTINEZ PLEASE OH GOD
— Alex W (@WesterosMagpie) January 22, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, the club are reportedly interested in signing a €25m midfielder after he fell out with his current side’s hierarchy.