With some of the Newcastle United transfer whispers swirling around right now, it feels like it’s 2022 all over again.
The Magpies spent big money that summer to bring in Alexander Isak, who became the club’s most expensive signing ever.
However, it was proving tough to find a striker until his arrival in August 2022.
Hugo Ekitike’s dogged pursuit ended in failure, with the Frenchman joining Paris Saint-Germain instead. He has now been linked with a new move to St James’ Park, while an Athletic report has downplayed the odds of Ekitike joining Eddie Howe’s side.
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin was another attacking target in the summer of 2022, and he, too, is being mentioned as a possible Toon target as Dan Ashworth and co plan for 2024.
Newcastle United could reignite interest in Dominic Calvert-Lewin
TEAMtalk reports that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back on Newcastle’s radar as the club looks to add at least one striker in 2024.
According to the report, the Magpies are keeping tabs on the 26-year-old and may make a play for him if he can maintain his fitness.
He’s been plagued by injuries in recent years, but he’s now stringing together a string of games.
That is certainly good, given his fitness record was so poor in the summer of 2022 that Newcastle’s interest in him was hampered.
The asking price also increased, with Everton demanding £60 million for their number nine. That was a ludicrous charge, and Eddie Howe’s team refused to pay it.
Calvert-Lewin was criticised by Alan Shearer earlier this year
Calvert-Lewin would not be valued at that level today. Over the last few years, his reputation has suffered greatly.
He appears to be progressing, as the England international has four goals in 11 outings this season.
That is already better than he did the entire season before. Calvert-Lewin only scored two goals in 18 games during the 2022/23 season.
He was plagued by injuries, and his record was dismal when he was healthy enough to play. It led to Alan Shearer criticizing him in February 2023, when Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay had only two Everton goals between them in 35 games.
Toon icon Shearer described the statistic as “pretty embarrassing,” which summed up how far DCL had gone since scoring 21 goals in a season under Carlo Ancelotti. He was so effective under Ancelotti that he was dubbed a “complete striker.”
Calvert-Lewin in the Ancelotti mold would be a fantastic addition for us. But that was a few years ago, and injuries have rendered him immobile ever since. Newcastle need someone to rely on up front, which is why they will almost certainly not bid for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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