Emile Heskey believes West Brom star Matheus Pereira would be a perfect fit for Newcastle United – especially if the club cashed in on Allan Saint-Maximin this summer.
To say the Brazilian has impressed across his first two seasons in England would be an understatement, with him following eight goals and 20 assists in the Baggies’ promotion season with 12 goals and six assists this term – an outstanding return for an attacking midfielder playing for a second-bottom side who’ve struggled all season.
Now, former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey has put his name forward as a player we should be looking at if Mike Ashley breaks our hearts by cashing in on Allan Saint-Maximin, feeling we would be a ‘nice fit’ for the former Sporting Lisbon star and a player ourselves and Aston Villa may well be after following their relegation.
Speaking exclusively to HITC, here’s what he had to say about the £20m attacker:
“I think he’s done fantastic.
“I think he would suit the way Aston Villa play because he’s very much a counter-attacking kind of football player.
“Another team, I don’t know if they’d go for him, someone like Newcastle,”
“If Allan Saint-Maximin leaves, cause I know a lot of people are looking at him, they’ll need someone who can replace him.
“It’s a nice fit there (at Newcastle).
“From tenth-place down, I’m sure Pereira will have plenty of suitors because, in the second half of the season, he just kicked on and produced some really, really good football.”
Pereira is clearly good enough for the Premier League and will be back in the top flight next season I’m sure, however I wouldn’t like to see him sign if it meant we lost ASM!
Signing him as well would be a statement and real step forward, but it feels like any big money moves may be saved for Joe Willock and Joe Willock only, with it suggested by the media that Bruce’s budget could be just £12m plus player sales.
Hopefully we can sell the likes of Gayle, Darlow, Muto and Lejeune to raise funds for summer signings – not rely on the sale of our star man and best player in Allan Saint-Maximin to bring a few in!
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