Having coffed up a rumoured £30 million to bring Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend to the club, Steve McClaren and Newcastle United look set to launch a late transfer window bid for their former frontman Loic Remy.
The Magpies remain rooted in the bottom three of the Premier League table, and with just one win in their last seven matches it is clear that they are in dire need of intervention if they are to avoid falling through the dreaded relegation trapdoor.
While many Geordies suggest that it is defensively where their side needs to invest – they have already scored more goals than the likes of Crystal Palace and Stoke, and just three less than Manchester United – it is fair to say that an attacking quartet of Shelvey, Townsend, Gigi Wijnaldum and potentially now Remy could prove the difference between Premiership survival and other wise.
Chelsea have slapped a £12 million price tag on the Frenchman, although that is unlikely to deter cash rich Mike Ashley from splashing the cash to keep his investment in English football’s top flight.
Remy has rarely featured for Chelsea this term despite the woes surrounding Diego Costa – until recently of course, and with his playing time limited to fleeting substitute appearances it is little wonder the 29-year-old has appeared to struggle at times. Against Arsenal on Sunday he had numerous chances to either score or create opportunities for his colleagues, but some rather sluggish play suggests that the Frenchman requires more game time elsewhere to recapture his best form.
It’s a shame for him as he played a key role at Stamford Bridge last season, coming off the bench to score some crucial goals as the Blues swept to the Premier League title. But perhaps now is the time for the powerful forward to seek pastures new.
He will have good memories of Newcastle United and playing at St James’ Park of course; he netted 14 times in 26 outings for the Magpies in a decent spell at the club on loan from Queens Park Rangers, and now McClaren seeks a more permanent reunion in order to help his side stave off the threat of a costly relegation. Money, it would seem, is no object at the moment.
And the move makes sense for Remy himself what with Euro ’16 just around the corner. He will be desperate to score the goals required to catch Didier Deschamps’ eye in the run-up to squad selection, and with chances to do that limited at Stamford Bridge it makes sense for the 29-year-old to do the business at a club that really needs him right now.
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