Newcastle United now has fewer alternatives up front following the departure of Chris Wood to Nottingham Forest.
Wood has joined Nottingham Forest after appearing to have played his final game for the Magpies. It was not a scheduled departure this month. Despite falling down the pecking order at the club, Wood still brought Premier League experience to their assault, and as Howe observed, Newcastle is now ‘dangerously short’ of options up front.
“Certainly, there was no thinking from my side of letting a guy go and not replacing him,” Howe said. That, I believe, would leave us dangerously short of players. However, there are no promises. That is the situation we are in.”
With the January transfer window closed, who may Newcastle United target to replace Wood this month?
Marcus Thuram
Thuram’s contract with Borussia Moenchengladbach ends at the end of the season, which means he could be available for a bargain price this month. Thuram showed off his enormous talent at the World Cup, playing out wide and across the middle as needed.
Thuram already has fans at the club, with Allan Saint-Maximin telling the Gazette that he wants Thuram to join the Magpies: “He is a terrific player and I hope we have a chance to bring him here.”
The 25-year-old would add talent to Newcastle’s forward line and, with the ability to play across a front three, maybe an excellent addition for the Magpies.
Everton’s difficulties in the Premier League may pave the way for a move for Calvert-Lewin. Injuries have hampered his season, but there’s no disputing the 25-year-old knows how to score goals in the Premier League.
Calvert-Lewin is being valued at £35 million, with Everton understandably hesitant to move the striker this late in the season. Relegation for Frank Lampard’s side at the end of the season could be the impetus for Calvert-move Lewin’s from Goodison Park.
Ugo Ekitike
A long and drawn-out saga for Ekitike’s signature ended with him joining PSG in the summer. Unsurprisingly, he has battled for game time in Paris and has yet to play a full 90 minutes in the league.
Newcastle was quite interested in the 20-year-old last January, and while he chose to stay in France rather than move to England, he might be someone the club is interested in again this month.
Youssoufa Moukoko
The young German has recently been extensively linked with a move to the Premier League as his contract at Borussia Dortmund expires in a few months. According to reports in Germany, Moukoko and Dortmund are close to reaching an agreement on a contract extension; nevertheless, the attraction of Premier League football – and potentially Champions League football – could be enough to persuade the 18-year-old to make the transfer.
Moukoko has continued to impress in the main squad after bursting onto the scene with some remarkable goal-scoring exploits in Dortmund’s youth ranks, netting at a rate of just shy of a goal every two games this season. Moukoko, who is still in his teens, would be a terrific future option and someone with the ability to make an impact.
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