New Newcastle United signing ‘imminent’ after source’s transfer update – pundit
Newcastle United will sign a replacement for Nottingham Forest-bound Chris Wood ‘imminently’.
That’s according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about
Football Insider first revealed Forest’s swoop for Wood early on Tuesday (17 January) and a deal has now been tied up.
His departure leaves Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak as Eddie Howe’s only senior strikers.
Wilson has already missed five Premier League games through injury this season while Isak has only been able to feature in four top-flight games thanks to his own injury troubles.
McManus is certain Newcastle have a replacement for Wood ready to come in.
“If Wood goes then that just leaves Wilson and Isak, both of them have missed games this season,” McManus told Football Insider‘s Ben Wild.
“Even if one of them gets injured, you’re left with one striker so that’s far from ideal with the run of fixtures most teams have until the end of the season.
“You have to think there is someone ready to come in imminently if Wood is being allowed to leave. It doesn’t make any sense to let him go otherwise.
“He might not score the number of goals you want but he causes problems for the opposition defence, he’s a handful.
“Wood played a big role in keeping Newcastle up last season and Forest are clearly hoping he can do the same.
“From a Newcastle point of view, I would be stunned if they went into the second half of the season with only two strikers.
“I think they must have someone in mind ready to come in.”
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