Santa Cruz linked with Newcastle
Manchester City reject Roque Santa Cruz is reportedly attracting interest from Premier League newcomers Newcastle. The Magpies, who despite rattling in six at the weekend are relatively short in attacking areas, would like to take the Paraguayan on-loan for the season.
However, they will face a fight for the former Blackburn Rovers hitman, with Lazio the frontrunners in the race for his signature. He would represent an almighty coup for the Geordie outfit, with the 28-year-old boasting an impressive record at former club Blackburn. But bereft of chances, and struggling for fitness at Eastlands, he hasn’t been able to revive such form leaving him surplus to requirements.
Chris Hughton would no doubt love another front-man to share the goalscoring burden with the highly-rated, but unproven at Premier League level, Andy Carroll, who notched an impressive hat-trick against Aston Villa on Sunday. It remains to be seen if the pair could link up though, as they are so similar in stature and in what they offer a team. But the need for a strong squad with numerous proven goalscorers is vital to staying in the Premier League, so Newcastle would do well to secure such a coveted hitman.
Having been bought for a whopping £18m by Manchester City just last year, Santa Cruz’ pedigree cannot be ignored. Boasting German giants Bayern Munich as one of his former clubs proves even further what an excellent coup he would be for Hughton. The superb way in which he eased into Premier League life at Blackburn should not go ignored either, with countless big names from abroad struggling to make half the impact the Paraguayan did. Time will tell if Hughton gets his man, but he’d be well advised to pursue the deal with as much as he can, as Santa Cruz could prove the difference between staying in the division and dropping down at the first time of asking.
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