Newcastle United

Newcastle United

Premier League • England

Newcastle told to ‘trust’ Howe and sign ‘luxury’ attacker who wants out of Prem rival

Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Chelsea, October 2022

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Newcastle United to “trust” Eddie Howe and sign “luxury” Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic.

Pulisic is a player that is never too far away from a report of a transfer recently. He has been the subject of interest from some big names in recent times.

That is largely thanks to a suggestion that Chelsea are ‘willing to sacrifice’ the attacker. The reasons for that are likely that he has not been a major asset for the Blues for much of his time at Stamford Bridge.

He returned nine goals and six assists from 25 Premier League games during his first term at the club.

Despite that, he has never been able to truly nail down a place in the side, and has apparently been frustrated by that. This season, while he has played in all but one of the Blues’ league games, he has only been afforded a start on six occasions.

Following reports in November that he may be allowed to leave, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Arsenal were all linked. Each side was said to have been ‘monitoring’ the forward.

Man Utd and Newcastle seem to be battling for a lot of the same players at the moment. That shows how much the Magpies have improved of late.

They had been in the market for Marcus Thuram, too. However, a recent report stated that they would not pursue him in January, instead prioritising Pulisic and James Maddison.

Magpies told to back Howe with Pulisic snare

While Robinson is not sure of Pulisic’s quality, he feels Newcastle need to sign him in order to back Eddie Howe, if he wants him.

“Pulisic has been hit and miss since moving to Chelsea,” he told Football Insider.

“I’m not 100 per cent sold on him but Eddie Howe has been very successful with his transfers so far. I like what he has done there at Newcastle. They should trust him.”

Robinson also touched on a potential approach for Maddison, who Newcastle are in the hunt for, along with Tottenham. He feels the Magpies should go after both him and Pulisic.

“If he wants Pulisic and Maddison they should try their best to get them both,” he said.

“I do not see Pulisic as an obvious transfer. Maddison is a player I can see fitting in but Pulisic not so much. You cannot doubt Eddie Howe though given the job he has done up there.”

Robinson wary of ‘luxury’ Pulisic

Robinson added he was taken aback in learning that Howe wanted Pulisic, given he feels he does not feel the dynamic of the side.

“Howe is a brilliant coach but I’m surprised he wants Pulisic. Perhaps he feels he could get more out of him,” he said.

“In my eyes, he is a luxury player. Eddie Howe wants work ethic from his team. Look at them against Arsenal, to a man they worked their socks off.”

While that might be the case, Pulisic could bring a different dynamic to the side. His stats at different clubs show that he is a quality player, and one who has an eye for goal.

As such, Newcastle might not want him to work hard off the ball, merely put the ball away when the chance comes, and create chances so that his teammates can do the same.

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