Three down, two to go? With Nick Pope, Matt Targett and Sven Botman already through the door, Newcastle United will step up their search for firepower in the coming weeks.
In an ideal world, Eddie Howe would love to bring in a young striker to support Callum Wilson and a wide forward to give his side a new dimension in the final third. It is easy to see why Howe wants another striker after Wilson was Newcastle's top scorer with eight goals last season despite missing so much of the campaign through injury, but Howe believes a goalscoring winger could also help ease the burden on the number nine.
Newcastle already appear well-stocked out wide but, although Allan Saint-Maximin has been the undisputed first-choice on the left wing, the Magpies have lacked a similar option out on the right. In fact, Howe has used a number of different wingers since taking charge last November, including Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy and, even, Joelinton.
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Fraser would ordinarily be first choice, and started 61% of Howe's games last season, but niggling injuries have disrupted the winger's progress at Newcastle at various points since joining the club nearly two years ago. Fraser's stint out on the left while Saint-Maximin was injured last season skews the data, but it was actually Almiron who started the most Premier League games out on the right-hand side (11) under Howe followed by the Scotland international (10) and Murphy (five).
Regardless of who has lined up, between them, Fraser, Almiron and Murphy only mustered four goals and five assists over the course of the entire campaign last season. While Saint-Maximin certainly does not offer anywhere near as much as the hard-working trio out of possession, on the opposite flank, the Frenchman was still directly involved in 10 goals - more than Fraser, Almiron and Murphy combined. It is also worth bearing in mind that Fraser, Almiron and Murphy are approaching their peak years - the trio will be between the ages of 28 and 30 come February - and Howe clearly wants to freshen up the department.
Newcastle have a list of targets compiled and the two names to have emerged so far, Bayer Leverkusen star Moussa Diaby and Everton wonderkid Anthony Gordon, hint at what Howe is looking for. These are two very different operators, with contrasting strengths and weaknesses, but it is clear Newcastle want to bring in an injection of youth and pace, and a player with a high ceiling who can grow with the club in the coming years while also pushing Fraser et al to new levels.
Let's start with Gordon. Although a move for Gordon seems extremely unlikely - Everton do not want to sell whereas Leverkusen do at least have their price for Diaby - it is still noteworthy that Newcastle's coaching team like the winger. Gordon has his critics because of his playacting but, in his breakthrough season, the fearless youngster helped make the difference in a number of games, whether it was firing Everton to a crucial 1-0 win against Manchester United or stepping up with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory against Leeds.
Gordon is hard-working, coachable and, most importantly, quick, which would give Newcastle an added threat on transitions. Indeed, Gordon was clocked as the fastest player on the pitch in Everton's 1-0 win against Newcastle last March.
However, as well as those offensive qualities, what really stands out are Gordon's defensive numbers when it comes to pressures (596), tackles (62), interceptions (36) and blocks (58). To put those stats into perspective, Fraser, who certainly works hard off the ball by the way, made 166 pressures, 13 tackles, 16 interceptions and 14 blocks last season.
Diaby, in contrast, does not offer anywhere near as much from a defensive perspective but, offensively, the 22-year-old is on a different planet. If Gordon is quick, well, Diaby is rapid and the France international also has a calmness in front of goal you do not always associate with pacey players.
Diaby was directly involved in 32 goals for Leverkusen last season and few experienced forwards can rival those sorts of numbers - let alone players his age. You can see why Diaby is so well-liked by both the coaching staff and recruitment team alike and, tellingly, Newcastle have not given up on signing the winger despite Bayer Leverkusen asking for between £55m and £60m.
The fact Newcastle are even enquiring about players like Diaby and Gordon suggests the club will spend big on a right winger this summer. Whoever that may be.
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