Newcastle are being told they will have to pay around £20M for Danish striker Nicolai Jorgensen and they are having second thoughts about the deal.
And there is news in the Mail today that Newcastle may turn their attention to 29-year-old Leicester City striker Islam Slimani.
The asking price for Slimani is £20M, and we think he would be a better buy than Jorgensen.
While Slimani hasn’t been too successful at Leicester City, he’s still scored 13 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances for them and is a good target man up front – and he has both pace and power.
Islam Slimani – 29-year-old Leicester City striker
Newcastle should not be short of money and if we can get Slimani in we could sell Aleksandar Mitrovic – hopefully to a continental club.
Brighton have made a bid for him (£8M – they got to be kidding), but the offer is well short of the £14.5M Newcastle will demand if Mitro is to leave this month.
That will see us at least get our money back on the striker, who has not been successful on Tyneside, with Rafa hardly playing him this season.
The 56 times capped Algerian International (27 goals) has 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 appearances this season, and that would make him top scorer at Newcastle.
Joselu and Ayoze Perez are currently our top scorers with 4 goals each.
Slimani cost Leicester £28M from Sporting Lisbon 18 months ago, and previously this month Watford were favorites to sign him because he played at Sporting for Marco Silva.
But Silva was recently sacked by the Hornets.
Slimani could add pace to the Newcastle attack – something Rafa Benitez is keen on, having just signed 21-year-old speed merchant Kenedy on loan from Chelsea.
The Algerian also has a physical presence so for£20M he could be a good buy for Newcastle – and a better buy than Nicolai Jorgensen.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
226 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #41I was actually shouting about Nicolai Jørgensen whilst he was still at Copenhagen and playing in the CL. But we went for Mitrovic instead for much much more. He is a good goal scorer, big and reminds me of Lukaku. The usual difficulty for players coming to the PL is that they have less time and it is much more physical, Jorgensen has a good ability to shoot with only one touch and can hold off challenges.
https://youtu.be/4suLj1lsBHo
Mr Funk
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:26 PM
Comment #42@ Lindisfarne,
I was worried about whether Jorgensen could deal with the physical nature of the EPL. The Dutch league is a lot less physical. Do you think he would be able to hold off challenges?
Bigjim67
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:32 PM
Comment #43What price are Chelsea putting on Batshuayi? Surely if we can unload the likes of Saivet, Colback and Mbemba we could get him in? Possibly our stingy wage structure would rule him out but if the club wants to compete we need to be paying the going rate.
lesh
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:35 PM
Comment #44‘Newcastle should not be short of money’ and there is the not insignificant amount in the form of one of the staged TV money payments.
Add to that Mikey boy’s reported approval to spend what’s necessary to avoid relegation and anyone’s be forgiven if they were to expect some meaningful squad strengthening.
However, whilst Mikey boy’s supposedly given the go to spend, he or via his henchman Barnes, will insist on signing each proposal off – or not! What the hell’s Charnley for? What’s he doing? Any deadwood going out the door?
With the possibility of relegation in mind, Ashley’s more likely to block spend in anticipation of reduced income rather than approve it to stand a realistic chance of avoiding it. Who’d have thought it possible that Newcastle United would be quibbling over five million quid?
Rafa must really have to control his frustrations when he’s just having the pi$$ ripped out of him by our great leader.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:46 PM
Comment #45Akinfenwe!!!!!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:48 PM
Comment #46Toondog2
Sorry mate the ADHD alter ego is still dormant!!! 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:55 PM
Comment #47The U23s v Eindhoven is being broadcast on NUFC Live.
I am otherwise engaged tonight so can’t listen in unfortunately.
Be interesting however to see the comparison between the supposedly poorer Dutch and us.
HWTYL
Lindisfarne
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:06 PM
Comment #48Mr Funk
Using the Wise-o-vision, he seems to hold off challenges.
canuckmag
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:07 PM
Comment #49For what it’s worth, I am on a business trip to Holland and was speaking to a Dutch colleague who has been going to watch Feyenoord for the last 30 years. He also watches the EPL games on TV and although he really likes Jorgensen he firmly believes that he would not make it in the EPL; not sharp enough and not strong enough, reckons the game would pass him by in the EPL.
Lindisfarne
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:18 PM
Comment #50canuckmag
I defer to your slightly more direct assessment.
beermonkey
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:34 PM
Comment #51any1 else having trouble with the site loading and being really slow or is just me
ShirebrookToon
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:39 PM
Comment #52Beer
Think it’s just you being slow mate 🙂
Macas
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:42 PM
Comment #53beermonkey – I’m getting the same problem, logging in on my PC
RobLeenio
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:47 PM
Comment #54Beermonkey
Yes, loading slowly for me too – and the advert at the bottom of the screen is for Berocca “Only slugs should feel sluggish”
🙂
RobLeenio
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:51 PM
Comment #55Lindisfarne
That video shows more goals than the one I saw last night, definitely interesting. He seems to have good speed over the first 10m or so, leaves defenders behind regularly – not all Dutch defenders are slow. Good distribution too and a decent shot from range. Could be worth a punt, but just not sure if my heart can handle another gamble like this
carl
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:52 PM
Comment #56beermonkey
Likewise.
LGFUAD21
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:52 PM
Comment #57Ive not seen anything of this danish lad. Generally despite the poor quality of the league, players have oretty good records of transitioning from it to epl though.
We got unlucky with the de jong brothers. Siem could never get fit enough to even show what he could do and luuk was never played in the right position in a team that created very little in the way of chances.
I remember great scepticism over pelle when he came to england. He didnt set the world on fire but he did a decent job helping southampton stabilise.
Slimani is my first choice though. Absolutely has the ability.
dannitoon
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:55 PM
Comment #58Even mitro is a better option thsn the dane
beermonkey
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:55 PM
Comment #59glad its just not me
dig-n-dig22
Jan 24, 2018 at 7:57 PM
Comment #60Me too The site is being attacked It’s either the Russians or the Mackems,
beermonkey
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:07 PM
Comment #61dig n dig
it will be the Russians then
as they know how to use a computer
fairscup
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:09 PM
Comment #62SLIMANI – just pay the fcucking money and get him FFS
Logging in easy – get a mac
jazzyp
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:10 PM
Comment #63Fascinating to see today how many nufc fans are avid experts of the Dutch league, Feyenoord in particular and the Danish National team…who knew?
beermonkey
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:17 PM
Comment #64jazzy
how goes it
there are all sorts of experts on here
Jib
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:18 PM
Comment #65I’m loving the Dutch criticism
Clearly there are folk on here never heard of Bergkamp,
Kluivert , Kuyt, van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie or Robben
etc.etc.
Moonraker15
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:21 PM
Comment #66All those shouting for Slimani could you please explain to me what he’s done to warrant his price? I think he’s crap. Jorganssen is the man; he’s Danish not Dutch!
In Rafa I trust!
Optimistic Panda
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:22 PM
Comment #67https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/01/nicolai-jorgensen-answer-newcastle-united-happened-last-10-top-scorers-left-dutch-league/
I’ll do a jib and use his copying a link technique especially as I know how much he loves the mag.
jazzyp
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:22 PM
Comment #68Beermonkey
All good mate and you??
I bet most had never heard of the chap prior to us showing interest. And to be honest mate what do people expect for 20 million nowadays
Mag52
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:28 PM
Comment #69If Slimani cost Leicester £28m. are they going to let him go for £20m.?
jazzyp
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:35 PM
Comment #70Not casting dispersions on Slimani but he is suppose to be a bad apple and had many a argument with the likes of Vardy and Albrighton to name a few. Not many Leicester fans will be sad to see him go
Optimistic Panda
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:35 PM
Comment #71I’d be surprised if Ashley gave Rafa £20m for a player.
I’m expecting this to be smoke and mirrors and at best a loan foward in.
beermonkey
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:36 PM
Comment #72jazzy
not bad thanks you
I don’t think it matters who we are linked with I don’t believe Ashley will release the cash needed
we will make the usual noises kick a few tyres as it were but we wont buy
fairscup
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:38 PM
Comment #73Seems like a good old fashioned centre forward to me – strong – aggresive – with a bit of pace – just what we need
Moonraker15
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:38 PM
Comment #74Mag52
Only cos they want to offload him; he’s an expensive flop!
Ketsbaia9
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:39 PM
Comment #75I would sign Slimani and Schurrle on loan and sign Shaqiri for £22m. That’d be enough to keep us up.
Lindisfarne
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:39 PM
Comment #76http://ripple.is/football/1502-arsenal-vs-chelsea-2
Arsenal showing why they are 6th
Ketsbaia9
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:40 PM
Comment #77Keep Saivet and Mbemba and sell Mitrovic and Gayle for £30m
Moonraker15
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:41 PM
Comment #78Beer
Ashley will spend but he’s gonna get 12 mil back for Mitrovic or Gayle! So he’s spending 8 and no extra wages.
Moonraker15
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:44 PM
Comment #79Kets
Not Shaquiri ! He’s overweight, overpaid and plays 20 mins per game
jazzyp
Jan 24, 2018 at 8:46 PM
Comment #80Beer
I have doubts to mate If Ashley doesn’t protect his asset now then he’s taking a big gamble on nufc’s survival in the PL