Newcastle reportedly offered free agent that Jonjo Shelvey raved about in 2013

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Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign free agent Daniel Sturridge who remains without a club having been released by Turkish side Trabzonspor – a player that Jonjo Shelvey raved about in 2013.

Sturridge, 31, has been without a club for almost an entire year – having left Trabzonspor in March 2020, despite scoring seven goals and creating four more in 16 appearances for the SuperLig side. A move back to England could be on the cards.

Football site 90Min have claimed that Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Sturridge on a free transfer, after Callum Wilson was ruled out until the latter stages of the season. A 26-time England ace, it is a surprise to see him without a club.

It remains to be seen if Newcastle are interested in Sturridge, though they have been offered the striker – while West Brom and Sheffield United have opened talks to sign him. Ex-Liverpool teammate Shelvey raved about Sturridge’s finishing in 2013.

“His finishing is there for everyone to see,” Shelvey said, as per the Echo in 2013. “When he started training with us, I was really looking forward to playing with him. I knew he had pace and good movement and I enjoyed putting balls through for him.”

TBR’s view – Sturridge could do a job for Newcastle

If signed on a contract until the summer, Sturridge might just give Newcastle that Premier League goalscoring nous that is missing – now that England international Wilson has been ruled out. Without Wilson, Newcastle lack a goal threat.

Dwight Gayle pops up with the odd effort, while Andy Carroll has scored once since returning to Newcastle in the summer of 2019. Joelinton – well, the less said about him, the better. Sturridge has a natural, predatory instinct in front of goal.

Though he will lack match sharpness, he could come on in games and would stand more chance of scoring than Newcastle’s current options. Shelvey’s comments back that up, so surely it makes sense?