A new piece from Daily Mail has once again linked us with a move for Roma striker Patrik Shick, who spent last season out on loan at Champions League semi-finalists RB Leipzig.
They claim the £22m-rated Czech star is our ‘top target’ this summer, with the signing of a striker clearly Bruce’s main priority.
The forward – still only 24 and in keeping with Ashley’s buying policy – scored 10 goals in just 22 league games for Leipzig last term, averaging an impressive strike rate of just 130 minutes per goal.
Here’s what the Daily Mail reported in their latest transfer piece this morning:
Steve Bruce has famously maintained clubs are only as good as their strikers but none of his Newcastle forwards managed to score more than four goals in the Premier League last season.
Had the club’s Saudi-backed takeover gone through, recruitment plans could have been significantly different but Bruce is unlikely to break the bank this summer.
The Magpies need more attacking players and Roma’s Patrik Schick is thought to be their top target at £22m.
It seems as though a 6ft 2′ Schick will depart Roma this summer, but Newcastle will have to compete with European giants Bayer Leverkusen-as well as his loan club Leipzig- for the forwards signature.
Schick certainly fits Mike Ashley’s transfer policy of recent years – he is still young and could have enormous sell on value if he was to hit the ground running in the Premier League. IF we can pull the transfer off, the signing of Schick would be a worthy use of our transfer budget this summer as we are undeniably desperate for goals.
That said, he would be an unproven alternative and another risk from Europe – despite his undeniable talent.
£22million is not a completely extortionate fee for a player of his calibre and Schick clearly has more long term value than other strikers we have been linked to – such as Josh King and Callum Wilson- who are fast approaching 30.
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Not a chance he will come here. Be nice but not with our current set up. He would become a poor player very quickly, like 75%of our squad did last season.
RMF(Quote)