Newcastle signing this 24-year-old on-loan La Liga ace would add some valuable depth

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Rohan Sengupta

Why Newcastle should make a move for Moses Simon in the summer

According to reputed French journalist Manu Lonjon (h/t The Chronicle), Newcastle United are one of the clubs scouting Levante’s Moses Simon, who is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Nantes.

Moses Simon, 24, has enjoyed a solid Ligue 1 campaign with Nantes, bagging four goals and five assists in 21 games. In all competitions, he has eight goals and as many assists in 25 games. Lonjon adds (h/t The Chronicle) Nantes are impressed with the Nigerian’s performances and are set to activate a clause to make the deal permanent.

Newcastle United signed Joelinton from Hoffenheim in the summer but the move hasn’t paid rich dividends, with the Brazilian netting only once in 25 league games. Apart from Joelinton, none of the Magpies’ strikers – Dwight Gayle, Yoshinori Muto or Andy Carroll – have scored a single league goal.

Moses Simon of KAA Gent shrugs off the challenge from Vierinha of Wolfsburg during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first leg match between KAA Gent and VfL Wolfsburg at Ghelamco Arena on February 17, 2016 in Gent, Belgium. (Getty Images)
Moses Simon of KAA Gent shrugs off the challenge from Vierinha of Wolfsburg during the UEFA Champions League round of 16, first leg match between KAA Gent and VfL Wolfsburg at Ghelamco Arena on February 17, 2016 in Gent, Belgium. (Getty Images)

Steve Bruce’s side have managed only 24 goals in 25 games. Bruce made just loan signings during the January transfer window, adding the likes of Nabil Bentaleb, Valentino Lazaro and Danny Rose to the squad. However, Newcastle failed to address the most pressing concern of this team, i.e. scoring goals.

Other than scoring goals, the Toon have also struggled with a lack of creativity. Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin have been highly inconsistent, failing to provide enough support to Joelinton up front. That being said, the Magpies must plot a summer swoop for Moses Simon.

Simon proved himself at Belgian club Gent, scoring 21 goals in 136 appearances in his four-year stay at the club. He joined Levante in 2018 but failed to make much of an impact and joined Nantes on a season-long loan last summer. At Nantes, the Nigerian has enhanced his reputation with a series of eye-catching displays.

Matty Longstaff (R) and Andy Carroll (L) on the left celebrate. (Getty Images)
Matty Longstaff (R) and Andy Carroll (L) on the left celebrate. (Getty Images)

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The 24-year-old has played 29 times for the Nigeria national team, scoring five goals. That’s a healthy return for a player who has his best years ahead of him.

Verdict

Simon would bring a lot of quality to Bruce’s attack, whilst adding depth to the squad. Truly, he is at the right age to make the jump to the Premier League. Thus, Newcastle must do everything possible to sign Simon in the summer.