Newcastle look set to miss out on a deal to sign Paco Alcacer from Borussia Dortmund this month.
According to Bild, the Spanish forward is poised to undergo a medical with La Liga outfit Villarreal ahead of a €25m move.
Earlier this week, The Guardian had linked Newcastle with a loan move for Alcacer, but the club may now turn their attention to Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud.
Read Newcastle verdict
A potential move for Alcacer always felt a little bit ambitious for Newcastle, with some supporters expressing their concerns following the initial rumours.
On paper, Giroud might look like the better and cheaper option for the Magpies this month, with Chronicle Live reporting that the Frenchman can leave Chelsea for just £3m. While that’s only a loan fee, it’s small change when compared to the £21m that Villarreal will pay to sign Alcacer permanently.
Giroud is somebody who knows the Premier League well and with Newcastle favouring a more direct style of play this season, he could be a better fit for their current tactical set-up. With WhoScored listing ariel duels among Alcacer’s weaknesses, he may not have been able to have the same impact in the Premier League as Giroud, despite his brilliant goalscoring record in Germany.
