It was reported yesterday that Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign former Atletico Madrid striker Nikola Kalinic this month. The Croatian is currently on loan at Roma, however it is expected that the Italian side will be terminating the temporary deal after Kalinic has failed to hit the ground running in the Serie A, with just one goal in six appearances for the club.
The 31 year old is reportedly keen on making a return to the Premier League where he spent two seasons with Blackburn Rovers between 2009 and 2011, bagging a total of 13 goals in 53 appearances. Kalinic has already turned down a handful of offers that would allow him to remain in Italy with Hellas Verona and Genoa both showing interest in the striker.
Newcastle need goals
It is well known that Newcastle United are looking to offload a handful of forwards either in January or in the summer, with both Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto struggling to make an impact on the team so far this season and the club looking to recoup some of the money spent before the season began. If Gayle and Muto were to leave Tyneside, Newcastle would need to bring in some backup and this is exactly the type of signing we have seen them make a number of times in the past.
It wouldn’t be the first left field loan signing that we have seen Newcastle United make, looking back at the temporary deals for Luuk De Jong, Seydou Doumbia, Facundo Ferreyra and Islam Slimani. A deal for Nikola Kalinic would feel like it very much fits in with the theme of those loan deals, a low risk and low reward option. Taking a flyer on a man who has struggled in recent years and hoping that he can come in and do a job if and when needed, however it’s a signing that is unlikely to excite the Geordie faithful.
While Newcastle could certainly use a few incoming deals in January and bringing in a striker to back up or partner Joelinton, this certainly doesn’t feel like the right move. As mentioned above we have seen this type of deal time and time again from Newcastle and not once has it really come off as a success.
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