Newcastle United are reportedly keen on making a move for Borussia Monchengladbach strike Alassane Plea to boost their misfiring attack.
According to French outlet L’Equipe, Premier League big-spenders Newcastle United are interested in making a move for Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Alassane Plea.
The 28-year-old is a key player for Die Fohlen and has impressed for them over the years. He joined the Bundesliga club in 2018 and has since gone on to make 127 appearances for them, scoring 40 goals and assisting 21 more. A versatile player, Plea is capable of playing anywhere along the frontline.
Plea’s contract at Borussia-Park runs until 2023, and it does not appear as if he will pen an extension. The German outfit appears open to selling the player this month or in the summer rather than losing him for free in a year’s time. This could give Newcastle an opening to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.
Eddie Howe’s side have won just one Premier League game all season and find themselves in the 19th spot in the league. Unless results pick up fast, they face the real prospect of being relegated. Newcastle appear keen to make a fight of it and are eyeing the January transfer window as an opportunity to boost their chances.
A major reason for Newcastle’s struggles has been their inability to find the back of the net. They have the fourth-worst attack in the league and will need to do better to win games. The addition of Chris Wood has given them a reliable target man upfront but more needs to be done to boost their chances of staying up.
The 28-year-old is also friends with Newcastle talisman Allan Saint-Maximin from their time together at OGC Nice. Whether the Magpies can take advantage of it and ensure both players enjoy a reunion at St. James’ Park remains to be seen. An excellent technician, Plea will be a promising addition to the wings as they look to supplement Wood with opportunities.
The French striker is certainly an improvement over the likes of Miguel Almiron, Joelinton and Ryan Fraser. While he will certainly add more bite to the Newcastle attack, it has to be questioned if he is the right man for the job.
Plea has scored just thrice in 20 appearances for Monchengladbach this season, hardly the form one would expect from a potential relegation saviour. The attacker will also need time to get used to the English top-flight. Newcastle will likely be better off looking elsewhere and seeking other ready-made alternatives such as Jesse Lingard.
While Plea is a good player, Newcastle need someone who can make a telling difference on the field. Given the 28-year-old Frenchman’s form this season, it could be unwise for Howe to pin his faith in him.
