It is no secret that Newcastle United could do with more options up front at this moment. Alexander Isak left last summer. Nick Woltemade was brought in as his replacement but has failed to fill the void so far.
In fact, Woltemade played a lot of football away from the striker role last season. Anthony Gordon was the only who was playing centrally more often in the second half of the campaign.
He has left now as well and has joined FC Barcelona this summer. So, that has left the Magpies significantly weakened in the forward areas.
So, expect them to go out and sign a striker or two in this summer transfer window. And it looks like a Belgian international is on their radar. In fact, the Magpies have started to take the first steps to a move already.
Newcastle United make contact for Lille striker
According to Ekrem Konur, Newcastle United have made contact regarding Lille striker Matias Fernandez‑Pardo. Aston Villa scouts travelled to the United States to watch the Belgian striker and meet his representatives. Liverpool are also interested.
So, it looks like there is going to be a ton of competition for Fernandez-Pardo. Unfortunately, the Magpies have lost out in a race already this summer.
It had looked like they are on the verge of signing Victor Munoz, with a deal agreed. But Liverpool swooped in late and got it done ahead of them.
So, Newcastle United should now be eager to get their business done early and not allow things to drag on for longer than they need to. Will that be the case with a move for Fernandez-Pardo? We shall see.
Who is Matias Fernandez-Pardo?
Fernandez-Pardo is 21 years of age and currently plays for French club Lille, who have a history of giving a platform to top talents. At the international level, he has appeared for Belgium on four occasions already.
Now, it is worth pointing out that Fernandez-Pardo is not the most prolific striker by any means. Last season, he scored 8 goals in 41 games.
That being said, there is still a lot to like about his game. He had 7 assists to go with that tally. And considering the fact that he is just 21 years old, one would imagine that he would get better with time.
Someone like Fernandez-Pardo could be a solid addition to this Newcastle United roster. But he might not be ready to be the nailed-on starter up top.
