The 2023/24 season for Newcastle United did not go as hoped, failing to replicate the successes of the previous campaign. In the 2022/23 season, the club finished fourth, earning a spot in the Champions League after a long absence. However, their European journey did not pan out, nor did their Premier League performance.
In the Champions League, Eddie Howe’s team finished last in Group F, often referred to as the Group of Death. They faced Italian giants AC Milan, French champions PSG, and eventual runners-up Borussia Dortmund. The Magpies earned a respectable five points but were ultimately eliminated by Milan.
They also failed to qualify for Europe through their Premier League finish, which was a disappointment for the Toon Army.
Their seventh-place finish was respectable, and they were set to play in the Europa Conference League on the final day of the season. However, Manchester United’s FA Cup victory secured the Red Devils a spot in the Europa League, which pushed Chelsea to the next competition and knocked Newcastle out of European contention altogether.
The Magpies aim to strengthen their squad this summer with hopes of qualifying for Europe again. To that end, they have been linked with a player who could boost their attacking prowess.
Newcastle has targeted Bundesliga striker Serhou Guirassy. The 28-year-old Guinea international had an impressive season with Stuttgart and might leave the club this summer.
According to reports from Chronicle Live, Newcastle has been ‘monitoring the striker’ after he informed Stuttgart of his desire to leave this summer. This development has put Newcastle, along with several other European clubs, on high alert for a potential transfer.
The competition to sign Guirassy is fierce, and Newcastle faces a tough challenge to secure his signature. They will be up against fellow Premier League side and back-to-back runners-up Arsenal, as well as two of their previous Champions League opponents from last season, Milan and Dortmund.
To sign Guirassy, Newcastle or any other interested club will need to pay a modest release clause of just £15 million, confirmed by reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano in May.
Why Guirassy Would Be a Good Signing
The 28-year-old had an outstanding season for Stuttgart in 2023/24, averaging one goal per game with 28 goals in 28 matches, plus two goals in two DFB Pokal games.
Harry Kane was the only player with more Bundesliga goals, while Lois Openda of RB Leipzig was the only other player to score more than 20, with 24 goals. Football scout Antonio Mango described Guirassy as “unstoppable” for a reason.
The biggest concern with Guirassy is his significant overachievement of expected goals (xG). According to Fbref, the Guinean striker scored 28 goals, surpassing his xG of 20.8 by 7.2 goals, the most in the Bundesliga and the fifth-most across Europe’s big five leagues in the 2023/24 season.
This could be problematic because maintaining such a high rate of overperformance on expected goals is challenging over the long term. Scoring from tough chances consistently is not always sustainable. While Guirassy’s achievement for an entire season is impressive, there’s no guarantee he could maintain this level of overachievement week in and week out over a prolonged period.
If Newcastle were to sign Guirassy, he could serve as an excellent alternative option to Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Recent reports indicated Newcastle’s interest in the Everton striker, but they withdrew from negotiations due to the reported £40 million price tag, which was deemed too expensive.
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