A bargain is a bargain. Judging by the Steve Bruce appointment, and their general lack of transfer activity, it seems Newcastle are pinching the pennies this summer. Who would have thought it?
To be fair, they are reportedly in negotiations for Hoffenheim striker Joelinton, but it will probably take more than that to retain their Premier League status for the upcoming season. Up steps Andy Carroll.
The Sun are reporting that the striker is in negotiations to rejoin his boyhood club on a free transfer. Carroll left West Ham at the end of last season, bringing to an end his seven year stay in London.
Now 30-years old, there is certainly a sense that Carroll's carer has passed him by. Once one of the brightest prospects in English football, he failed to live up to the lofty potential he once possessed.
It is easy to sneer now, but he was an incredible talent in his youth. One of the greatest aerial presences in the game, he was billed as a throwback striker that few modern defenders could live with. Liverpool paid £35million for his services in 2011, and the move turned out to be an absolute disaster.
A mixture injuries and a lack of professionalism ensured his spell at the club would be one of the all-time great transfer failings, making only 44 appearances in red before he was shipped off to West Ham.
His time in London was mixed. He showed flashes of his talent at times, but injuries were a huge problem. He would make only 102 appearances in seven seasons, not making the impact West Ham would have expected from their then club record signing.
When his contract expired at the end of last season they showed little hesitation in letting him walk away.
Newcastle could be a good fit for him. His fitness will assuredly be an issue once again, but the Geordies are desperately in need of some reinforcements up front. Their two top scorers from last season, Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez, have already left the club.
If they can keep Carroll on the pitch, he could be a good asset. As a free transfer, he is also a peak Mike Ashley signing.
We already look forward to watching their battle against relegation in the upcoming campaign.
