With the sale of a star striker, it’s inevitable that he needs replacing at any club, no matter the size of stature. That’s exactly the case with Newcastle United, who recently sold Demba Ba to Chelsea after the west London side activated the £7.5m release clause inserted that strikers contract.
The Magpies would be in serious jeopardy with the goals of the of the Senegal international and currently find themselves in 15th in the Premiership, two points ahead of 18th placed Wigan Athletic. While the club may’ve used a substantial chunk of the money they received from the Ba sale to bring in Mathieu Debuchy from Lille, but it’s essential they replace the 27-year-old sooner rather than later.
It comes as no surprise, in that case, to see them linked with a move for Marseille ace Loic Remy. The Frenchman has reportedly been told he is free to leave the Ligue Un side in January after making just 12 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring twice.
Perhaps more importantly for Newcastle is to sign a striker that can operate on the wing, rather than as a centre forward. The problem Alan Pardew has had over the past 12 months was accommodating both Ba and Papiss Cisse in the same 4-3-3, despite both being number nine front-men.
With the former no longer part of the Magpies set up however, the chance to bring in Remy is open and one Pardew must capitalise upon. With it, the Newcastle boss can continue with his preferred 4-3-3, starting the Frenchman on one wing, compatriot Hatem Ben Arfa on the other and Cisse as the spearhead of the attack.