With goals being an obvious problem on Tyneside this season, the January transfer market is likely to be used by Bruce to give himself some more attacking options.
A number of players have been talked about – Olivier Giroud, Glenn Murray and Alfredo Morelos to name a few – but now there is another big name amongst the mix – Krzysztof Piatek from AC Milan.
According to reports in The Sun, Steve Bruce has already made contact with the Rossoneri to try and sign the Polish attacker, whose position is now allegedly in jeopardy due to the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The story suggests that Bruce is all the more hopeful for his signature due to the Swedish legend signing back on in northern Italy.
Would Piatek be a good signing?
Yes, he would be a great signing
No, we need someone more prolific
After a great start to life in Milan, Piatek’s stock has fallen considerably. He joined the Italian giants for £34.2m from Genoa, according to Transfermarkt. After joining Milan last season in January, he scored nine goals in the league for the second half of the season, helping him reach a pretty impressive 30 goals from 42 games in all competitions for both sides.
Since then, things haven’t been quite as easy for the striker. In his 18 games this season, he has scored just four goals. This poor form has now put the attacker’s future in doubt at the club, and they may now look to the transfer market to recuperate some of the large fee they paid for him.
It is said that if Piatek joins the Magpies, that will pave the way for Dwight Gayle to leave the club.
Four goals this season isn’t very much – though it is four times higher than the amount any other Newcastle striker has got (Joelinton with one). Furthermore, Piatek is just 24, and will naturally have a lot of room to grow.
Personally, given the £40m spent on Joelinton, it would be hard to see this deal get over the line as it would cost them a lot. Newcastle could sure do with 30 goals like he scored in the last campaign, however, it is unlikely the piggy bank has enough to afford Piatek.