Newcastle advancing move for £40m “goal machine”

Newcastle United have spluttered their way into life this summer, starting to show signs of activity in the transfer market.

The feel-good factor was in full swing after Eddie Howe led the Magpies to a top-five Premier League finish, sealing United’s place in the Champions League, having also won the Carabao Cup back in March.

But the gears are indeed beginning to move. A £45m offer has been rejected for Nottingham Forest right winger Anthony Elanga, while efforts are ongoing for Brighton & Hove Albion’s versatile forward Joao Pedro, who is expected to leave the AMEX this summer.

Newcastle line up Joao Pedro alternative

Pedro, 23, would be a wonderful addition, having posted 30 goals and ten assists across 70 matches for the Seagulls.

His high-powered approach to the attacking game would see him act both as a foil for Alexander Isak and indeed a complementary force, sitting in behind or out on the left.

However, Chelsea are also keen, and an alternative pick has been drafted up.

According to Football Insider, Newcastle are hoping to sign Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford on loan if INEOS fail to ship the England winger off on a permanent basis this summer and are advancing in their efforts to do so.

marcus-rashford-aston-villa-premier-league

Valued at £40m, Barcelona are also interested in the £300k-per-week Rashford, who will need to take a pay cut if he is to leave Old Trafford.

However, Howe is curious about a deal, enticed by the 27-year-old’s versatility, capable both as a left-sided and central forward.

Why Newcastle should sign Marcus Rashford

Rashford has been through the wringer in recent years, but despite his trials and tribulations, he remains an immensely talented and explosive player.

If Howe can capture his natural qualities and direct them in a way befitting Newcastle’s project, he could secure an excellent addition to add depth and dynamism to his offensive ranks.

And given Rashford’s versatility, he might be the perfect alternative to Pedro, bringing a goalscoring predilection that has earned such acclaim in the past.

You need only look at his top-flight record through the years to see exactly how good a player the Toon would get if they got him back to his A-game.

Marcus Rashford – Prem Stats by Season (last 6 years)
Season	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	25	6	4
23/24	33	7	3
22/23	35	17	6
21/22	25	4	2
20/21	37	11	13
19/20	31	17	9
Stats via Transfermarkt

It’s true that the Three Lions star has lost his way, but Howe has one of the sharpest tactical minds in the country and has demonstrated over a number of years on Tyneside his ability to raise the level of his wide players.

Let’s not forget that across two seasons in his career, Rashford has recorded 17-goal hauls in the Premier League, and he was hailed as a “goal machine” by journalist Mazola Molefe only two years ago.

That player still exists, with a balanced and somewhat selfless version revealed at least in part during his short-term stint with Villa, hitting ten goal involvements from just 17 matches in all competitions.

As per FBref, Rashford actually ranked among the top 14% of positional peers in the Premier League last term for goals scored per 90 (0.38), emphasising the prowess that would surely be enhanced in such a fluent Tyneside system.

The Brazilian Pedro is a good player, but he hasn’t yet proved himself capable of reaching the heights we all know Rashford has in his locker.

Is he approaching the last-chance saloon? Maybe not, but he’ll know that Howe will demand plenty of him, and if it works out, it might just drive this incredible project toward the next degree of success.