Newcastle United shall be delighted to take some high type into 2025, however with a crunch Carabao Cup tie and a battle for Premier League prominence taking entrance and centre, Eddie Howe is aware of that his facet want to boost their sport even larger.
Whereas the Magpies will survey the market this month, Howe will need to set his facet up for fulfillment over the approaching years and seems to have recognized an up-and-coming striker will the potential to be a famous person.
Might it’s an indication that Alexander Isak is able to take his go away? Fingers crossed that does not occur, eh?
Newcastle chasing new striker
As per a report from Caught Offside on New Yr’s Eve, Newcastle are fascinated with signing Vitor Roque from Barcelona, with the teen’s transfer to Camp Nou not likely going to plan thus far.
He is now having fun with a short-term stint with La Liga rivals Actual Betis, and though the 19-year-old’s performances have improved, he is nonetheless received a lot to work on earlier than hitting his potential.
Newcastle are set to lose Callum Wilson when his contract expires on the finish of the season and want competitors for Isak. Roque is taken into account a high-class putting expertise and will even surpass United’s lethal talisman within the coming years.
Why Newcastle ought to signal Vitor Roque
Barcelona signed Roque in a deal rising to £52m in January 2024. The attacker arrived with a weight of expectation after establishing himself as one among South America’s prized jewels however began solely two of 16 matches for La Blaugrana earlier than the summer time, bagging two objectives.
Outcomes had gone awry, however the Brazilian expertise has rebounded throughout the 2024/25 marketing campaign on mortgage with Betis, producing a good return of six objectives and two assists throughout 23 matches in all competitions, solely 14 of which have come from the outset.
Hailed as a “high expertise” by soccer scout Jacek Kulig, Roque had struggled to acclimatise at Barcelona final season however has begun to make eye-catching progress on mortgage with Betis.
Bodily, he is a monster, blessed with tempo and energy, however there’s additionally an mind and psychological dedication to the Brazilian’s sport, one thing that can serve him effectively and is being evidenced at the moment via his La Liga resurgence.
In fact, he wants to attain extra, however the underlying information is one thing to admire. As per FBref, the Roque ranks among the many high 14% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for pictures taken and the highest 16% for progressive carries per 90, evidencing his physicality, tenacity and ball-carrying.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in direction of the opponent’s objective no less than 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
There’s one thing price preventing for there, particularly since FBref data him as the same participant to Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland of all folks. Roque had preliminary difficulties adapting to Barcelona’s technical type, however this is not actually his fault, with the teen bearing the mark of a pure quantity 9, not probably the most technical however highly effective and with a fierce ball-striking means.
He might grow to be the striker that Newcastle want to enhance and even perhaps exchange Isak sooner or later. Let’s not overlook, Roque is simply 19 years outdated and already beginning to discover his toes in La Liga, notching 4 objectives from 12 begins this time period.
A sure Swedish striker as soon as plied his commerce in Spain’s high flight, and began his Spanish stint at the same age and expertise stage to Roque.
La Liga Stats – Vitor Roque (24/25) vs Alexander Isak (19/20) | ||
|---|---|---|
Match Stats* | Roque | Isak |
Matches (begins) | 15 (12) | 37 (14) |
Targets (per sport) | 4 (0.27) | 9 (0.25) |
Assists | 2 | 1 |
Pictures (on track)* | 2.5 (1.2) | 1.2 (0.6) |
Massive possibilities missed | 9 | 8 |
Cross completion | 72% | 73% |
Key passes* | 0.6 | 0.4 |
Dribbles* | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Whole duels (gained)* | 2.9 (35%) | 1.7 (37%) |
Stats through Sofascore | ||
Isak was on the finish of his teenage years when he first joined Actual Sociedad, and it is curious to see that he wasn’t all that totally different to the striker, matching his goal-per-game charge – there or thereabouts.
Roque has the mark of a top-level goalscorer, discovering area and unleashing strikes with scary regularity. The issue is that he hasn’t but sharpened his abilities to a high quality and correct level.
That would change with a switch to Newcastle. Sat behind Isak within the pecking order, he might develop his qualities with a transparent pathway to stardom within the Premier League.
Newcastle’s objective machine is maybe probably the most coveted ahead in Europe proper now, and after a seamless transition to life on English shores (accidents however), Roque should now comply with go well with.
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Eddie Howe could be overjoyed to welcome this Newcastle United recruit in via the door.
