Newcastle United have a golden opportunity to try and strengthen their attacking options in Januaryplaceholder image
Newcastle United have a golden opportunity to try and strengthen their attacking options in January | Getty Images
Newcastle United have a golden opportunity to try and strengthen their attacking options in January
Newcastle United are preparing for what could be a potentially season-defining January transfer window as they try to bounce back from what has so far been a huge underwhelming Premier League campaign.
After successive defeats in the capital to Brentford and West Ham, Eddie Howe’s side sit 14th in the table, seven points adrift of the Champions League places and alarmingly only two points ahead of the relegation places.
It’s a far cry from where the Magpies would expect to be. At this stage of the season, the table often begins to take shape and sooner rather than later Howe’s team would like to be on the right side of it.
Why Newcastle United should look to strengthen their creative options
Newcastle United have kept five clean sheets this season - a tally only bettered by one other team in the division, and that’s title favourite Arsenal.
They’ve had injuries to Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento to contend with and the added workload of European football but on the whole barring the last fortnight have looked tough to break down. Their expected goals against of 11.51 reflects this, with only Manchester City and Arsenal boasting a better record of limiting the opponent’s chances at goal.
However, at the other end of the pitch, Newcastle have been anything but entertaining. They’ve been involved in three goalless draws already against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth and have scored just 11 times, only three teams in the division have found the net on fewer occasions.
It’s not as if they’ve been particularly wasteful in front of goal either. Nick Woltemade, for example, who is the club’s top scorer has only taken 12 shots all season and he’s managed to convert all four of the ones that he’s put on target.
Newcastle United should target Iliman Ndiaye
Newcastle United’s wide attacking players between them have three goals and one assist from 11 matches. Anthony Gordon, who was recently withdrawn from the England squad, hasn’t managed a goal contribution since January - while Anthony Elanga is yet to register a goal and assist since his £55m move from Nottingham Forest.
This is a poor number for a team with ambitions of achieving Europe like Newcastle, and is something that they could try and rectify with a move for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye.
The Senegalese international has been a revelation at Everton since joining from Marseille, where like Ismaila Sarr of Crystal Palace, he struggled to make a big impression.
Ndiaye has scored 15 times in 50 appearances for Everton since arriving, with four of his goals coming in the first 11 matches of this season. The former Sheffield United man is amongst the top three players in the division when it comes to successful take-ons leading to a shot attempt with seven which is higher than Newcastle’s quartet of Gordon, Elanga, Barnes and Murphy combined at present.
The 26-year-old has all the qualities to play for a top club and is blessed with technical ability and agility that is reminiscent of someone like Hatem Ben Arfa.
Like the Frenchman, Ndiaye is blessed with the ability to thrive as both a central attacking midfielder and as a wide forward,making him a versatile player that’d fit excellently into a number of roles in Eddie Howe’s side.
However, unlike Ben Arfa, Ndiaye is also a player that works exceptionally well off the ball in terms of pressing. He’s completed 32 tackles and interceptions combined which is amongst the highest of any player in his position and the 33rd best of any player in the league, which for context is higher than any footballer in the Newcastle squad, with Dan Burn’s 27 currently being the highest.
Continue Reading