According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are interested in signing Everton winger Theo Walcott before the end of the transfer window.
What’s the word?
The Magpies have brought in some fairly impressive signings thus far, with the likes of Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis walking through the door at St James’ Park.
And now, with only a few days to go before the window slams shut, Steve Bruce’s side are keen on making further reinforcements. TEAMtalk claim that intermediaries have already spoken to Newcastle about a potential deal for Walcott, adding that numerous Premier League clubs, including West Ham and Crystal Palace, are interested in the winger’s services.
Worse than Joelinton
An England international well past his best, with a history of injuries, and on massive wages. Does that sound familiar to Newcastle fans?
15 years ago the Magpies brought in Michael Owen from Real Madrid for a then club-record fee, and watched the former Liverpool starlet’s career at St James’ Park go from bad to worse. In the end, he managed just 79 games for the club, which is quite staggering given that he missed a total of 78 games alone due to a cruciate ligament rupture, let alone all the other niggling injuries he had as well.
Just like Owen’s move to the Magpies turned out to be an expensive disaster, so too does this potential move for Walcott. Now 31, he has endured a major downturn in form since his departure from Arsenal a couple of seasons ago, scoring a disappointing 11 times in 84 games for the Toffees.
In fact, when you compare some of his underlying stats to Newcastle’s big-money signing from last summer, Joelinton, it doesn’t look favourable at all. As per Whoscored, Walcott averaged 1.2 shots, 0.6 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League season. The Magpies’ Brazilian on the other hand, managed 1.3 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per match.
Whilst the transfer fee wouldn’t be too huge, the eye-watering £100k-a-week wages he is reportedly on at Goodison Park makes this all the more worrying from a Newcastle perspective. Add that to his Owen-esque injury record (he too has had an ACL injury and muscle problems), and it becomes move they simply have to avoid.
And in other news, this Newcastle transfer flop surely has to be Mike Ashley’s biggest disaster.
