Rafa Benitez’ number one striker target ion January was Danish International Nicolai Jorgensen, but at £20M Mike Ashley refused to pay out the money for him and at the last minute, we brought in Islam Slimani from Leicester City.
Islam finally made his debut last Saturday against the Terriers, and for 15 minutes it looks like he can bring something new up front to Newcastle.
While Nicolai was top of Rafa’s striker list the news is that Islam was not, and was relatively low on the list.
So if Islam wants to make the deal permanent he has to show Rafa what he can do in the final six games he’s eligible to play in during the run-in to the season.
Nicolai Jorgensen – 27-year-old Danish striker
Rafa is very likely to go back for Jørgensen and hopefully when we do we can make a quick acquisition say for around £18M, which will be club record transfer.
One of the things that has frustrated Rafa, especially last summer, was the length of time it takes Newcastle to sign a player.
They go on – and on – and on – before the deal is finalized – if it ever is.
So here’s a chance in the summer to get a player in early and Ashley can prove that Newcastle can do things that Rafa wants before he will ever sign a contract extension to stay at the club.
But there may be some complications with Denmark playing in the World Cup and Jorgensen’s club maybe wanting to wait and hope the price will go up.
Rafa wants to sign two of our loan players on permanent deals – Kenedy and Dubravka – and the only problem is with Kenedy and whether Chelsea will sell.
If they do, there will likely be other big clubs in for him, but we hope he signs permanently for us this summer.
He would be a massive signing for Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
24 comments so far
Dagwoodz
Apr 4, 2018 at 11:22 AM
Comment #1If he has a marginal or poor WC, the price will probably stay the same. But would we want to invest in someone who can’t perform on a large stage like that? That would just make me more skeptical of paying that much. Not saying he can’t get the job done in the PL, but paying 20m for someone from the Eredevise, who isn’t really lighting up that division, seems a bit daft.
posada
Apr 4, 2018 at 11:30 AM
Comment #2As far as that lot from down the road are concerned I am with Hibbit and his remarks.
Anyone who says they will miss the Derby games is just soft.
When I first started watching in the 70s we did not have Derby games. They were always in division 2, bar one season I think.
Someone said it could have been us, but for Rafa.
Wrong, the two times we have gone down we still supported and had gates of 50 thousand. We graced the Championship and many supporters of the other teams enjoyed their game at our place.
They get gates of 20 thousand. I know the figure put out is 27 or 28, but that includes thousands of season ticket holders who don’t turn up.
That said if you don’t mind I will go back to my normal position of ignoring them.
G
Apr 4, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #3posada, that’s fair enough mate. My view is to sympathise. I can almost hear my old grandmother telling me ‘2 wrongs don’t make a right’.
Little h
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:06 PM
Comment #4A banner over their ‘stadium’ with the words enjoy leaugue 1 followed by a rapid demise to national league north and derby matches away at hartlepool are all those scrotes deserve karma is a bi**h
I bet those imbeciles that orderd that plane for us are kicking themselves now
the toon still top dogs
Little h
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:08 PM
Comment #5And as for nicolai ‘bendtner’ Jorgensen… no thanks
Bigjim67
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:09 PM
Comment #6Welcome to the “lets give the mackems a cuddle blog”. Ahhhhh
Bigjim67
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Comment #7Little h. Agreed.
Sav
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:16 PM
Comment #8Kenedy, Dubravka, Praet, Jorgensen, Lascelles – Listen, there’s only signing that REALLY matters this summer, and that has to be Ashley extending Rafa’s contract beyond next summer. After that, everything will fall into place. Without it, we will be in big trouble again. No exaggeration.
Little h
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:23 PM
Comment #9You play palace you pray for no zaha
You play man united you pray for no in form pogba
You play chelsea you pray no hazard
You play liverpool you pray no salah
Stoke- shaquiri
West ham- arnoutovic
Brighton- murray
Etc etc ect
You play most premier league teams theres at least 1 player your secretly hoping isnt available
My point being i cant see Jorgensen being that player
So whats the point
Im not his personal wiki bio author or owt nor have i followed him massively or at all but 1 good season in a pub league aint a usp if you ask me
DubaiMicky
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #10Can’t disagree with that one Sav
martoon
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:28 PM
Comment #11I have to say I would have a lot more sympathy for the makems IF it had not been for the plane stunt – I know it was only down to a handful but most on Social Media thought it was funny and a good idea!
I think it also shows what a fantastic job Rafa did last year despite people saying we had the best squad. The makems kept a lot of their squad who had played in the Premiership and at the beginning of the season it looked pretty strong and certainly not relegation candidates!
Jail for Ashley
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:42 PM
Comment #12Little H,
So every player we sign has to be a superstar?
Jib
Apr 4, 2018 at 12:56 PM
Comment #13Jail for Ashley
So every player we sign has to be a superstar?
Contrary Mary again
He said nothing like every player we sign yadder
yadder yadder
PLEB
RobLeenio
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:05 PM
Comment #14Little h, it’s not Rafa’s way to have star players. He’d rather have a team with interchangeable parts who know their roles and contribute what is expected from that role. If Jorgensen fits that bill (and if Rafa thinks he does) then I’ll welcome him with open arms.
RobLeenio
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:09 PM
Comment #15Do certain of the Mackem support deserve the plight they’re in? Yes, definitely. Would their fans in the office be making my life hell if the roles were reversed? Almost certainly. Would my life as a NUFC fan be more enjoyable for the presence of the Mackems in the Prem, with the rivalry and the Derbies that would bring? 100% and said with feeling.
Little h
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Comment #16Yeah i see what you mean robleenio just personally think it was more of a mid wish list signing not what hed really like i more mean id like to see a striker where people were wishing hes not fit etc and
jail
no not every player a superstar
but our main goal threat to put fear into the hearts of the opposition is a total differnt thing defoe aint a superstar but i hate it when he plays
Thats the sort of thing im getting at id rather have a thorne to push in there sides then a pawn to fit the bill
Tsunki
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:16 PM
Comment #17S*nd#rl?nd?
Sayonara.
RobLeenio
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:22 PM
Comment #18Little h, I know what you mean, but I guess Rafa is a pragmatist. We’ll never see the likes of Tino here while Rafa is in charge, but we could well see another Shearer type. Any inbound transfer will have to satisfy the team first, flair second. And granted, Jorgensen is no Shearer, more of a Dirk Kuyt who a lot of Liverpool fans hated but Rafa loved.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #19You see Jiblets,
It’s called debate, Little h posts a comment, I question it and he responds, it gets the conversation going. Unlike yourself who will just ignore a comment you can’t answer or don’t understand, which are most of them.
c-dog
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Comment #20Poor record this season. I hope we go for a more proven player.
RobLeenio
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:29 PM
Comment #21Just watched the Adam Armstrong goals from Monday night. Two cracking finishes, lots of pace, one with the right foot, the other with the left. Also dropped deep to play a Shelvey-esque early ball up the right wing to create an early chance. He’s surely worth another look in the close season before Rafa decides what to do with him.
toonincheek
Apr 4, 2018 at 1:41 PM
Comment #22RobLeenio,
Armstrong’s efforts weren’t bad but the goalie
really should have done better with both shots.
Against a Premier level ‘keeper, they would not
have been goals.
Jib
Apr 4, 2018 at 2:21 PM
Comment #23Jail
He’s in dialogue with Robleenio you silly sausage
😀
Moonraker15
Apr 4, 2018 at 9:02 PM
Comment #24To be honest I don’t like this “hate” for the mackems. When I was s kid there was more banter and both clubs were in decline in the sixties still thinking we were top clubs. I prefer the more restrained attitude of Liverpool and Everton who seem to be able to get on even without segregation in the ground. Sunderland afc is in a sad state now for sure!