Newcastle Could Complete The Signing Of The Summer If They Manager To Land This €14m Striker

Why Stevan Jovetic Would Be A Massive Signing For Newcastle United

According to reports coming from Italian outlet Tutto Mercato Web, Newcastle United are plotting an ambitious swoop for Inter Milan forward Stevan Jovetic.  

The Magpies manager Rafael Benitez is a long-term admirer of the 27-year old striker and wanted to sign him back during his days at Liverpool (Goal). The Spaniard has followed Jovetic’s career closely since then, and even tried to sign him while at Napoli, in 2014 (talkSPORT). Rafa is now set to revive his interest in Jovetic and try to bring the striker to the St. James’ Park.

The report also claims that the Nerazzurri are likely to demand €14million (£12.8million) for the Montenegrin international, but it is believed that the player wants to know how he fits in the scheme of things with the Italians for the upcoming campaign, before considering a move away.

The Montenegro international burst on to the scenes during his days with Serie A side Fiorentina, around the turn of the decade, that prompted Manchester City to invest big on him in 2013. However, things did not work according to the plans for the striker at the Etihad, as he struggled to make an impact in England. In his first two seasons with the Sky Blues, Jovetic managed just 11 goals and 6 assists in 44 games, before being sent out on an 18-month loan spell to Inter in the summer of 2015.

After 33 appearances in which he scored 7 times for the club, Jovetic was signed on a permanent deal by Inter in January 2017, immediately after which he was loaned out to Sevilla for the second half of the previous season. The 27-year old impressed for the La Liga outfit, scoring 7 goals and notching up 5 assists in 24 games in all competitions.

Things may not have gone too well for Jovetic in his previous stint in England, but there is little doubt over his quality. A supremely gifted player technically, the Inter Milan forward can play anywhere in the attacking line, be it as a centre-forward, out on the flanks, or as a secondary striker playing alongside another striker.  

Jovetic’s strong dribbling abilities, his two-footed nature, combined with pace and guile make him a great threat in and around the box. His ability to link up with the rest of his teammates in the final third, with short passes and neat layoffs and the intelligence of making darting runs in behind the defences would add a new dimension to Newcastle’s forward line.

Newcastle may have signed Joselu from Stoke City earlier this week, to add to their strike-force of Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic, but without a question, Jovetic will be a major upgrade on all of the options Benitez currently has at his disposal. The former Manchester City man will bring in genuine quality with him along with years of top level experience and could prove to be the difference-maker for the Toon, come the end of the season.  

It has been a frustrating transfer window so far for the Magpies, but signing Jovetic could go a long way in changing the mood around the St. James’ Park, as he could turn out to be the marquee signing the club has been trying to make all summer.