Forget Lacazette! Here’s the Ligue 1 star Newcastle need to sign
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Newcastle United’s pursuit of European football next term could see the Magpies move for a new striker this January to compliment the likes of Ayoze Perez and Papiss Cisse and a viable and low-cost solution could be available in Ligue 1.
The French top-flight has been a familiar transfer stomping ground for the Toon in recent times with current first-team stars like Moussa Sissoko and Remy Cabella recruited from across the Channel.
Newcastle have even been linked with one French forward in the form of Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette with the Magpies rumoured to be weighing up a £20m bid for the 23-year-old.
However another potential source of goals could come from the rather less fashionable Nice and an Argentine forward with a fine record for finding the net in Ligue 1 of late.
A former Banfield and Ajax star who was given a second chance in Europe with the French club after impressing during a recent stint at Boca Juniors, Dario Cvitanich may not tick many of the boxes when it comes to an exciting foreign signing but the one thing the 30-year-old does offer is goals.
He’s been the driving force behind Nice’s recent resurgence in the French game, scoring 34 goals in 68 games for Les Aiglons over the course of the past three seasons and the good news for Newcastle fans is that the striker is on the move.
Speaking in a press conference held last week, Cvitanich admitted as much: “I am profiting from my last months at OGC Nice, a very important club in my heart.
“The fact that I haven’t had a contract extension offer up until now, means that it won’t be coming in the future. This situation does not worry me, even if it is in my head now.”
With the Argentine in the final few months of his deal with the Ligue 1 side, any bid from Newcastle come January is most likely to be well-received, with the club keen to cash in on one of their star assets.
Praised for his fine finishing abilities in front of goal throughout his time in France, it is Cvitanich’s predatory instincts, mixed with his ability to operate either in a partnership or as a lone front man, bringing others into play, that would make him a welcome addition come January.
Here’s hoping Newcastle’s Ligue 1 love affair extends to this late-blooming hotshot.
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