According to reports, Newcastle are interested in signing Hoffenheim’s Croatian star Andrej Kramaric, while Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on the 27-year-old forward.
Kramaric has also impressed with his national side so far at the World Cup, putting in a good display in Croatia’s 2-0 win over Nigeria last week.
The forward scored 17 goals in all competitions for Hoffenheim last season, thereby attracting the interest of Newcastle and Bayern. And Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen has revealed that the German club would be willing to sell the player if they receive a bid of €50m this summer.
If that’s the case, Newcastle will have to break their transfer record to sign Kramaric from Hoffenheim. Magpies owner Mike Ashley failed to keep his word of allotting substantial funds to manager Rafael Benitez to spend last summer.
Benitez cut a frustrated figure during the 2017 summer window as the signings he had hoped for did not materialise, despite his belief that there was cash available after guiding the club to the Championship title in the 2016/17 season.
The Spaniard will need to persuade Ashley to loosen his purse strings if he wants to sign Kramaric, who has shone in the Bundesliga after a forgettable stint with Leicester City.
Kramaric could be the ideal man to solve Newcastle’s goalscoring woes next season. Dwight Gayle blew hot and cold, Joselu underwhelmed and Islam Slimani failed to impress after moving to St James’ Park on loan from Leicester City in January.
Benitez did spend on Joselu and Slimani but the players recruited were simply not up to the challenge. So, Benitez should look to sign at least one new striker ahead of next season.
And the Magpies should offer Kramaric a second chance in England to prove his real worth. The Croatian was never really given a chance at Leicester as he started just six league games for the Foxes.
But since moving to Germany, he has established himself as a lethal forward who can create as well as score goals. He would be a real upgrade to the current attacking options at Newcastle by bringing a touch of flair and unpredictability which could take the club to a new level next term.
Newcastle finished in an impressive 10th place last season; however, they will need to bring in a few fresh faces in order to fare better next term, and Kramaric could well be one of those new players. But to acquire the Croatian hotshot’s signature, the Magpies have to fork out a lot of money.
In fact, they will have to break their transfer record, which still remains at £16m – the amount they paid to Real Madrid for Michael Owen back in 2005.
Hence, Ashley will have to break the 13-year-old record if he wants to back Benitez with the signing of Kramaric in the summer transfer window.
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