Newcastle United are closing in on a move for Chris Wood, which has drawn controversy due to the lofty price, his advancing age and his poor scoring record this season.
Wood turned 30 in December, has netted only three goals in 21 games this campaign and will set the Magpies back up to £25m, so it’s certainly a gamble to fend off relegation.
Kevin Campbell believes he’s ‘brilliant’, however, and says it’s a ‘clever signing’ by Newcastle even if he’s expensive. He told Football Insider: “His goal record is very good and aerially he is brilliant.
“When you have the likes of Trippier whipping the ball in, it would appear to be another very clever signing. Wood is a striker who can go and attack it. He is as good as anyone at attacking the ball in the box.
“I just think they need weapons who can keep them up. Wood is one of them. I think he’d be a very good signing for them. It’s a move that definitely weakens Burnley as well, which can only be a good thing for Newcastle.”
Campbell does have a point, regarding Wood’s skillset. He’s a good target man who should thrive on balls coming into the box – Wood is 6ft 3in and has used his head for 40% of his shots in the Premier League this season.
Newcastle are 16th for accurate crosses (68) in the league, 16th for shots on target (66) and 17th for goals, so their problems could be solved if they had somebody to aim at in the area.
Matt Ritchie has whipped in 27 accurate crosses in the league this season, so Newcastle should have better success with Wood (93/183 aerial duels won) getting on the end of his balls than any other player.
In other news, Paul Merson says Chris Wood is ‘what Newcastle need’
