Why Newcastle United should make a move for Alassane Plea in January

Back in July 2018, a report from the Chronicle had claimed that Newcastle United were interested in signing Alassane Plea, who was then plying his trade for Ligue 1 club OGC Nice. However, a move didn’t go through as the forward wanted to join Borussia Monchengladbach ‘at all costs’.

Alassane Plea, 26, had a decent debut season with Borussia Monchengladbach, scoring 12 goals and supplying a further four assists in 2018/19. He has started the new Bundesliga campaign well and will be aiming to get past his last season’s goal tally in Gladbach colours.

As far as Newcastle United are concerned, they haven’t made a bright start under Steve Bruce and find themselves just a point above the relegation zone. They have won just once in six games and pressure is slowly starting to mount on Bruce.

Bruce made some signings to bolster the squad in the summer transfer window. The Magpies made the headlines with mega-money deals for Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin. However, Joelinton has struggled as a lone target-man, while Miguel Almiron is yet to break his Newcastle duck since signing from FC Atlanta in January.

Despite having some exciting attackers at disposal, Bruce’s team are royally struggling in front of goal. To put things into perspective, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Magpies to revive their interest in Alassane Plea.

A clinical finisher with a prolific goalscoring record, Plea can be deadly in front of the goal. Primarily a centre-forward, he can also be deployed as a left forward which allows him to cut inside on his stronger right foot and fire powerful shots on goal. He is strong, powerful, fast and industrious, a player who would be perfect for Bruce’s system.

Blessed with pace, power and physicality, the Frenchman has matured a lot in terms of his movement and finishing and he is exactly the type of player who would truly bolster Newcastle’s strike force, whilst adding much-needed competition to the likes of Joelinton and Almiron.

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At 26, Plea is perhaps entering the peak years of his career and the time could be ripe for Newcastle to try getting him on board.

Verdict

Seeing Plea enjoy so much success in the Bundesliga has to be painful for Newcastle supporters, especially considering how close he came to coming to St. James’ Park last summer. Nevertheless, the addition of the French forward in January wouldn’t necessarily put Newcastle over the top, but it would be a step in the right direction.