The Sun is reporting today that Liverpool are willing to let Daniel Sturridge leave the club next month.
The England striker needs first team games if he is to have any chance of making the England squad for the World Cup in Russia next summer.
The news is that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told his striker he can leave in January.
The only way Newcastle could get Sturridge in is via a loan spell with an option to buy in the summer, but Liverpool are likely to want Newcastle to pay his wages which are reported to be a huge £125K/week.
Daniel Sturridge – available in January – sign him up
But before Mike Ashley dismisses the potential deal because of his excessive wages we have to look at the big picture.
If we are relegated again, we will lose way over £100M in Premier League payments, and that’s always assuming we can come straight back up like last season.
It’s much worse if a club stays down in the Championship for more than one season.
SkyBet has us as clear favorites to sign Sturridge at 11/8 with West Ham next in line at 10/1.
As an aside we are also favorites to sign Fernando Torres but at 6/1.
The problem with Daniel is that he picks up a lot of injuries so it’s not clear how many games he could play for the Magpies in the second half of the season.
It would be a risk.
But Daniel can also score goals – there’s no doubt about that – and maybe Rafa Benitez will try to take both Sturridge and Danny Ings from Liverpool in January?
It’s not the only weakness we have but we are woefully short in the striker position, and Rafa will need to bring at least two strikers in during January.
Rafa could try to sell both Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle (or get them out on loan and off the wage bill) if he can get other strikers through the door next month.
That’s the significant weakness at Newcastle in the first half of the season although we also need a full-back and playmaker brought in next month.
But having some strikers who can score goals would make a massive difference to our results – which is the general idea.
🙂
Certainly, Sturridge could be the hero for Newcastle if we can get him in, keep him fit and play to his undoubted goalscoring strengths.
Comments welcome.
363 comments so far
clinath@ed
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:22 PM
Comment #41had a good think about that one Loch……. 😉
ilovetoon8788
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Comment #42With us staring at relegation, and 30million is doubtful its even enough, I think Staveley will call this deal off. I don’t see a take over happening this season.
lochinvar
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:31 PM
Comment #43Clinath@ed
Doesn’t really work if Expat is called Brian does it
Transfer Sage
Dec 18, 2017 at 3:59 PM
Comment #44Always been a big fan of Sturbridge but his injury record has been poor the last 2/3 years. Also had some in the media question his desire to play through minor problems that most others would. Don’t see him helping us.
For me we need some pace in the side, particularly wide. Man City improved ten fold with the introduction of two fullbacks with pace.
Get in a left back, creative player in the middle and a goal scorer and I think we stay up.
Would like to see Ings come into this squad, would add a lot to us.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Comment #45ilovetoon8788,
What a shame you posada and Jmiley couldn’t all be in catchy’s trawler without comms till next May, tins of sardines and a few litres of water should do you.
hibbit
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:06 PM
Comment #46Transfer Sage
would a keeper not be on your list ???
bladeuser
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:06 PM
Comment #47RAFA
Is confident we will reach 20 points by new year
I totally agree it should be easy to reach this by 2019 if everybody stays fit
5 more points should be a no brainer if we play Burton early in August and late December
Although I have pushed the boat out I know your going to tell me that would be six points but I am ever the optimist
ASH OUT
Transfer Sage
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:07 PM
Comment #48Hibbit
We definitely need a keeper long term. I think Elliott is good enough to get us through this season, feel others areas are a bigger priority. I wouldn’t complain if we bought an improvement though.
hibbit
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Comment #49Sage for me the priorities would be
a goal scoring CF
an experienced keeper
a no 10
anything else would be a bonus
Transfer Sage
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:12 PM
Comment #50The positive thing to consider is that there will be plenty of movement in January. There will be a significant number of good players who need regular football to be sure of a national team place in the run up to the World Cup.
It should give us the opportunity to loan a couple in and buy some others. There will be players on the fringes of England like Shaw, Wilshire, Welbeck, Ings, etc who need to get game time. They would prove a bit of a gamble but could do a job until the summer.
Sure there will be plenty on the fringes of other national sides as well who we might be able to tempt.
Ketsbaia9
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:14 PM
Comment #51I’d be happy with the loan signings of Sturridge, Walcott and Batshuayi.
DanishMagpie
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:15 PM
Comment #52http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kieron-dyer-carnival-atmosphere-mike-14053261
Transfer Sage
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Comment #53Hibbit
I’d like to see, in the following order:
– a goalscorer
– an experienced holding player
– a left back
– a keeper
I’m not a huge Shelvey fan but would rather have him play a more advanced midfield position, less tackles to make and his passed would be in areas which can hurt the opposition. Would like a decent, experienced holding player to come into the midfield too (a Darren Fletcher, Gareth Barry type), just to be a calming influence and lead the team.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:16 PM
Comment #54If we get £30 million to spend
I know we need more than 2 players but I would prioritise on getting a top notch keeper and centre forward/goalscorer
midweek weekend
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:31 PM
Comment #55getting a bit late in the day for an announcement i think, this whole transfer saga is getting tiring now and every loss is making the situation worse hopefully we will know whats happening, on the transfer rumours sturridge ings walcott wilshire, all good if they can stay fit so it would be a gamble and we just seem out of luck atm
JohnJ
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:33 PM
Comment #56We have to remember that I believe we’re only allowed 2 loans from English Leagues not sure how overseas leagues come into that equation – I feel:-
No I – A decent goal scorer
No 2 – Another decent goal scorer ( with our luck No 1 would break his flipping leg in the first game).
No 3 – A decent Goal Keeper
No 4 – A good attackinge midfilder
No 4 – A good defensive midfilder
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:37 PM
Comment #57I genuinely think that this team would keep us up:
Elliott
Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummet
Murphy Shelvey Merino Atsu
Gayle Mitrovic
That’s just my opinion and I know most won’t like it. I genuinely believe Mitrovic would make a huge difference, adding a bigger goal threat but primarily improving the play of those around him.
Lejeune needs time and we don’t have it. Get him benched. Would rather have Mbemba in for Clarke.
If we are set on playing 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-1-1 then we need a new nr9 and nr10 desperately. None of our current crop can play nr10. Mitrovic lacks the pace to be a lone striker and Gayle lacks the strength.
We are not desperate for a new keeper. Elliott could see us through. Although it’s an area which needs upgrading at some stage.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:40 PM
Comment #58Weren’t we linked with jasper cillessen for £9m recently? I think that’s a deal worth looking for gk but because we’re not in the best of positions, would he come to us?
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:42 PM
Comment #59Dennis praet, no thanks. Does a lot of running and decent movement but very little goals or assists when he’s supposed to be a number 10.
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:42 PM
Comment #60The Sels saga will not help us signing a GK. They have to be very careful with career moves, don’t want to end up rotting on a bench for ever.
Sels was useless but it will definitely make other keepers think twice don’t you think?
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:43 PM
Comment #61Siem de Jong shouldn’t have been allowed to leave. Although Rafa probably thought he would have coin to replace him and I bet he was on decent wages
sparky55
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:44 PM
Comment #62The 900 million land / property deal my mate was the underbidder on was completed on the 12th December (3 days before the deadline) so Ashley got some money from somewhere to complete that deal.
He has not sold any shares because the FTSE have to announce any major shareholders who sell listed shares. The SD share price dip has nowt to do with Ashley selling shares because he hasn’t sold any.
I’m not sure what the delay is on announcing the sale of the club but everyone I speak to in the city say he could only have completed the land / property deal based on selling NUFC because there’s no other way he could have raised that kind of money to complete the deal without selling / leveraging his shares in Puma, adidas, Debenhams or SD.
He’s agreed something with regards the sale of the club that’s allowed him to do the land deal so can’t be much left to haggle over.
Amanda will have nothing to do with the club once this sale is agreed…she’s only negotiating on behalf of someone. Rafa to be a director of the club allegedly once deal is done.
Usual disclaimers…just passing on what I’ve been told
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:45 PM
Comment #63Sturridge, Ings, Wilshere. Broken Englishmen living off reputations forged when they young.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Comment #64I can see us getting either Sturridge or ings but for me, it would have to be alongside another striker. It’s obvious we are looking to sell mitro so since we needed a striker as it is, we would need another to replace him. Would love to go all out for giroud, whether loan or permanent. Something a bit different maybe is the fact that dembele of Celtic is possibly looking at leaving them. At 17/18 he was ripping up the championship, always looked a class above in the Scottish league and has improved with Brendan Rodgers.
sparky55
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Comment #65Tinman
I’ll take all three of those because they’re light years better than anything we’ve got so will no doubt improve the squad
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Comment #66Sparky, maybe Mike just withdrew his money from his Bet365 account.
No way has he sold the club, been paid and spent the money on a another deal without the media catching wind.
c-dog
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:50 PM
Comment #67Siem De Jong was an utter failure who couldn’t adapt to the premier league and it was right to move him on in my opinion. I thought he was gonna be a class signing but the premier league wasn’t for him. Too intense. And he hadn’t the vision nor physicality to operate in such tight spaces.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:50 PM
Comment #68Sparky
I can’t recall which journalist, mark Douglas or George caulkin but one of them alluded to Amanda stavely being involved in some form after the sale. They spoke about her wanting to communicate with fans from an early stage after completion of takeover. Will look for the link again if I can but that’s what I recall.
Novocastrian66
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:50 PM
Comment #69Loch; my head is spinning now.
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:52 PM
Comment #70Ronaldo, Dembele is worth big money. More than our kitty.
Sturridge would be a disaster. Lazy and injury prone. Hasn’t done anything in years Solanke and Origi are ahead of him.
What has Ings ever actually done? He hasn’t even scored 50 goals in his whole career. Only scored 11 for Burnley. Gayle would get more goals if he played 35 games.
Wilshere I would have. Could have been an England great if it wasn’t for the injuries… shame.
sparky55
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:54 PM
Comment #71Tinman
I think they’ve agreed a minimum figure which has allowed Ashley to use that amount as a guarantee for raising funds for the land deal.
The rest is still to play for and in my opinion makes Ashleys negotiating position weaker.
I think this sale of the club is still a banker.
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:54 PM
Comment #72C-dog I would still suggest he is better than any one else playing nr10. I agree he is not best suited to the league. Rafa seems to only play one formation despite the fact we simply don’t have the tools for it
Tinman
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:56 PM
Comment #73Sparky, makes sense. Good news if true.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:57 PM
Comment #74Tin man
Quick google, Brighton are linked with him. BRIGHTON omg lol. I like hughton a lot and hope he does really well but I hope he doesn’t get this signing. Would think it would not be more than 20/25m since the Brighton bid is linked to be around £18m.
sparky55
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:57 PM
Comment #75Ronaldo
No doubt she’ll be used as a PR handover figurehead but then she’s off into sunset with another 10 million commission cheque…no long term Amanda in the box
hibbit
Dec 18, 2017 at 4:58 PM
Comment #76tinman how big is this budget your talking about ???
Novocastrian66
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Comment #77Perhaps,just perhaps, the deal is done and both parties are just waiting for the FA fit and proper seal of approval before confirming the sale.
Jail for Ashley
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:00 PM
Comment #78I think there’s room for bladuser and an extra tin of sardines on that trawler.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:01 PM
Comment #79Calling de Jong a huge failure is harsh. How many starts did he have with us? So it’s not like he couldn’t adapt, rather never got a proper chance to. It was down to him either, it was injuries, often freak injuries like the eye injury, punctured lung etc. As a player, he did have the vision and captaining Ajax before he came to us and the way he played suggested he had high footballing intelligence. Unfortunately didn’t work out but this summer, he seemed to be over his injuries and played a lot in pre season so I was surprised to see him leave. When he did play, our attack was much more organised because he was a leader and a communicator, knew where everyone should be.
ronaldo aarons
Dec 18, 2017 at 5:04 PM
Comment #80Sparky
That’s what I would have assumed but after seeing the reporters talk about stavely like that then of course it makes you think. She may have more of hand in this since we don’t the owner as of yet.