Desperate times may call for desperate measures from Eddie Howe and the recruitment team.
Having lost out on two wins in the Premier League thanks a lack of a striker, we only have a matter of days until the end of the transfer window to sign someone who can operate in place of the want-away Alexander Isak and still unproven Will Osula.
Yoane Wissa and Jørgen Strand Larsen have been the targets most linked with a move to Tyneside in the past week, but Brentford and Wolves are both proving to be understandably difficult to negotiate with.
So it looks like Howe may have to settle for someone without that much-desired level of Premier League experience if he wants to add at least some firepower to his attacking lineup…
According to Italian media, officials at Roma are looking at the possibility of selling Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk to us this summer.
Reportedly recognising our desire for a striker, and with Dovbyk having failed to impress new Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini
Having only signed from Girona last summer, it had looked like a move to Villarreal was on the cards for Dovbyk, hoping to recapture some of his electric form from his previous stint in La Liga.
The reporter Matteo Moretto has commented that no negotiations have been opened between us and Roma, and that any contact so far has only been through intermediaries.
On the surface, almost any striker who can retain a consistent level of fitness would be welcome at St James’ Park, particularly as a replacement for Callum Wilson.
However, signing Dovbyk would feel like a completely absurd choice that goes against our recent recruitment efforts.
He did score 17 goals in all competitions last season, but at 28-years-old and lacking that all important Premier League experience, it would be very surprising to see if Howe supports the signing.
Reports within the Italian media should always be viewed with caution as well: this summer alone there have been constant links of a Sandro Tonali sale to Juventus with Dusan Vlahovic coming the other way, so there’s a strong chance this could all just be agent talk to try and drum up interest in Dovbyk.