Former Mag Steve Howey has urged potential new owners to make an ambitious move for Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Erling Haaland if a takeover goes through.
The ex-NUFC centre-back quite rightfully states that a new striker must be our top priority whenever the window reopens – whether the would-be buyers arrive or not – but a move for arguably the world’s biggest teenage talent (quite literally!) feels like fantasy talk for now.
Speaking during an Instagram live alongside Steve Wraith, here’s what Howey had to say when asked which area we must target first should the Saudis complete a takeover:
“A centre-forward,”
“But it depends on the kind of money you’re talking about.
“We could sign the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, if backed.
“I’ll tell you who is good, and I know his Dad, Erling Haaland,”
“We could have signed Haaland for less than we paid for Joelinton.”
The Staveley-led consortium appear to have big plans (and big wallets) for the club, but can we really attract a player the likes of Bayern, Barca, Real Madrid and Liverpool are expected to fight over whenever the transfer window resumed? Money is power, but I don’t think so!
After all, the 19-year-old is already at a club competing at the top of a competitive German league and playing Champions League football, so it seems so unlikely that he’d leave that for us – especially when big offers from European heavyweights seem imminent.
Money talks, and it could help us bring a few big names to Tyneside if a takeover happens, but there’ll be a limit to our ambitions when we’re currently well behind the top 6 and not yet in the running for European places.
Wondering which big names we should go for is premature enough as it is, with us needing to remain calm until a deal is official, but suggesting we could sign anyone we wish if Saudis billions arrive also seems a little naive in our current position.
