Promoted Newcastle United targeting Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez
By Chris Hughes
Jay Rodriguez is reportedly being eyed by Newcastle United as a potential summer target, per reports.
27-year-old striker Jay Rodriguez could seemingly be heading for the exit door this summer, with the vultures now swarming for the out-of-favor striker.
The former Burnley man has played just under 1000 minutes of football in all competitions this campaign, and hasn’t completed the full 90 since the loss to Everton at the turn of the year.
It’s now reported that Newcastle, who tonight sealed promotion back to the Premier league, are interested in signing the striker.
Rodriguez has struggled to return to his pre-injury form and has just four goals from from his last 30 league appearances, having scored 15 in his previous 33.
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Newcastle United are one of many Premier League teams credited with an interest in J-Rod, with Crystal Palace and West Brom also linked with the striker.
The Championship team could do with more firepower as they return to the top flight, with Dwight Gayle leading their scoring charts in comfortable fashion.
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Ayoze Perez’s eight is the next best of any Newcastle striker, with Daryl Murphy and Aleksander Mitrovic sitting on five and four for the season respectively.
Should he join the Magpies it would be a fitting club to leave to, with the Saints signing Rodriguez in the summer following their promotion to the Premier League.
But Palace could do with a new striker as well themselves, with Christian Benteke facing little competition from his back-up strikers when it comes to goals.
Connor Wickham and Frazier Campbell – who can both considered themselves accustomed to the league – have just three league goals collectively.
But West Bromwich Albion could lead the race for the 27-year-old, with the Baggies having made a genuine bid for him in the January transfer window. Back then they were rivaled by Sunderland for his signature, and sit in eighth for the season, much higher than the other bidders.