Report: Newcastle offered chance to sign AS Roma striker Nikola Kalinic in January

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Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport have claimed that Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign on-loan Roma striker Nikola Kalinic this month, as he struggles for game time at the Italian club.

Kalinic, 31, left Atletico Madrid in the summer to join Roma on a season-long loan after just four goals in 24 games for Diego Simeone’s side. His form has hardly improved back in Italy with Roma, managing just six appearances and 0 goals.

The 42-time international is struggling to replicate the form he showed at Fiorentina – where he netted 33 goals in 84 appearances for La Viola. At AC Milan, during the 2017-18 season, he only managed six goals in 41 outings.

Kalinic, though, should not be judged alone on his goalscoring rate. Indeed, the Croat is also noted for his contribution to play. Newcastle fans may remember Kalinic from his time at Blackburn between 2009 and 2011, where he scored 13 in 53.

TBR’s view – Newcastle should avoid Kalinic, Joelinton needs faith

Not only should Newcastle avoid signing Kalinic because of his steady decline over the past couple of season – but also because summer signing Joelinton needs plenty of backing and faith in him. Signing a new striker hardly gives him that.

Atletico are likely to charge a bargain fee less than the £12.8million (Goal) they paid for him, but he would require hefty wages and he is no better than what Newcastle already have. Steve Bruce should ignore Kalinic.