Despite the roaring success of Salomon Rondon last season, there was always a feeling we were a little short in the striking department. Yoshinori Muto was our only real option off the bench to play up top, and the Japanese star didn’t seem to offer much when he did.
With just one goal in 17 Premier League outings, it’s no surprise to see us being linked with a number of forwards this summer, and one man who appears to fit the bill is Birmingham’s Che Adams.
According to Football League World, we remain interested in bringing Adams to Tyneside, and that ‘a source close to the player’ confirmed that we are ‘very strong admirers of the forward’. The 22-year-old enjoyed a blistering campaign at St Andrews, smashing in 22 goals in 46 appearances in the Championship.
Such were his performances that he was nominated for the Championship Player of the Season award, and scooped up at his club’s prize ceremony; winning Players’ and Supporters’ Player of the Year, and the Goal of the Season award too. That’s what you call a one-man show. But, despite his 22 goals, the Blues finished 17th and are seemingly resigned to losing him.
So, trying to entice him to St James’ Park and the prospect of playing Premier League football for the first time in his career is something Adams is unlikely to pass up. If we can fend off the likes of Southampton and Everton to his signature, then we would have someone who would be a significant upgrade on Dwight Gayle.
Both have similar traits of being shorter in height but powerful, and have a real eye for goal. But Adams just has that edge to his game, and in leading a struggling Birmingham side, showed he has the temperament even when the going gets tough.
Even at 5ft 9in, Adams is beginning to show signs of improving his play with his back to goal, and at Newcastle, could fit seamlessly in and around the likes of Miguel Almiron and Ayoze Perez. The trio would dovetail so well, and be such an exciting proposition for Magpies fans; pace, movement and style.
He would add a different dimension to our attack, and give Rafa Benitez another string to our bow. Being tactically flexible is something the Spaniard loves, and as well as being able to play the lone striker’s role, Adams has also proven in recent years that he can operate from out wide too.
Getting Rondon on a permanent deal is still uncertain. But what should be clear is that we need to be well in the mix to sign Che Adams this summer.