Newcastle United continue to be linked with several strikers, and RB Salzburg’s Noah Okafor is the latest name to be added to the list, according to TEAMtalk.
The January transfer window was always going to be imperative to Eddie Howe’s chances of keeping the Magpies in the top flight.
But even the addition of England international Kieran Trippier couldn’t inspire a beleaguered Newcastle to get past League One side Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round.
Without star striker Callum Wilson, Howe’s side looked toothless in front of goal and with the club’s number nine ruled out of action for two months with a calf injury, attacking reinforcements have also become a priority in the winter window.
With a raft of names continuing to be linked with a move to St James’ Park, TEAMtalk claim that Salzburg’s Okafor is a ‘potential option’.
The 21-year-old moved from Basel in his native Switzerland to Austria in January 2020.
Okafor joined the Austrian giants in the same window that former Salzburg star Erling Haaland headed to Borussia Dortmund.
The Swiss striker scored four goals in his first half season for Salzburg as he acclimatised to playing in a new league.
Last season, he finished the campaign with six goals and six assists from 29 matches across all competitions, despite suffering injuries and contracting coronavirus.
Although he has missed four games through hamstring injuries this season, Okafor has already surpassed his previous best goalscoring campaign.
From 23 appearances so far this season, Okafor has 11 goals and six assists to his name which is an impressive return.
Okafor has three Champions League goals to his name this season and it was his strike in the winner takes all clash against Sevilla, which meant Salzburg qualified for the last-16 where they will face Bayern Munich.
After making his international debut for Switzerland in the 2019 Nations League third-place play off against England, he made two further outings for his country in the most recent November international break, registering a goal and an assist.
Is Noah Okafor the right man for Newcastle?
TEAMtalk understands that intermediaries with connections to the player have told Newcastle that he could be available this month. Furthermore, Okafor is open to a move to England.
Although Newcastle haven’t ‘discounted a move’ for the striker, signing Okafor would only make sense if an established senior proven striker was also being signed in the same window.
Otherwise, pinning our survival hopes on a 21-year-old who looks more than capable of scoring goals and is building an impressive reputation, would be a massive risk.
Howe’s side have a massive clash against Watford on Saturday and the club are determined to sign a striker and centre-back before the crucial six-pointer, according to The Athletic.
But Okafor who hasn’t played in the Premier League before cannot be our only forward signing in this window, if PIF do decide to pursue him.
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