The £40m Premier League striker who could resolve growing Newcastle United problem in January

Newcastle United must resolve issues at both ends of the pitch during the January transfer window - and one long-term target could well provide a prudent option in attacking areas.

The Magpies were believed to be admirers of Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin long before the Saudi-led ownership took control at St. James’ Park in October 2021. The Toffees forward was strongly linked with a move to Newcastle earlier in the summer and there were some - including this writer - who were initially sceptical over such a move. However, times and needs change and there is evidence that such a move could prove to be a shrewd one for the Magpies.

Comparing Calvert-Lewin to the two natural strikers he would share a dressing room with at St James Park makes for fascinating reading. Given the accusation commonly aimed at the Toffees star over his proneness to injury, Calvert-Lewin actually made 12 more appearances than Callum Wilson last season and just one fewer appearance than Magpies top goalscorer Alexander Isak.

It should be pointed out both current Magpies produced more goals and assists than their potential team-mate, who scored seven goals and provided two assists in 32 appearances for a Toffees side that struggled to find form for large swathes of the campaign. Both Wilson and Isak were more prolific with goal contributions with Isak posting 23 goals or assists in his 30 appearances and Wilson returning nine goals and one assist in 20 appearances during frustrating season hampered by injury.

Surprisingly, given Everton’s struggles during the season, Calvert-Lewin’s average shots per 90 minutes (2.95) actually sits in close proximity to Wilson’s 3.00 and Isak’s 2.87, which shows he is getting into the right positions - although his percentage of shots on target (39.4%) shows there is work to do on that front when it’s compared to Isak’s 50% and Wilson’s 54.5%.

One aspect of Calvert-Lewin’s game that will be attractive to Eddie Howe is his willingness to work hard at the top end of the pitch and when defending set-pieces with the Toffees striker making more successful tackles and winning more aerial duels that either of the Magpies current crop of attackers. Across the course of the season, Calvert-Lewin won 137 of the 281 aerial duals and his success rate of 48.8% easily outstrips Wilson’s 36% and Isak’s 20.4%.

Moving away from on-field statistics, Newcastle’s ongoing battle with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations means a move for Calvert-Lewin could prove to be cost-effective as the England striker heads towards the final six months of his current deal at Goodison Park. It would seem likely a more modest fee would be demanded by the Toffees, rather than the reported £40m asking price they placed upon Calvert-Lewin earlier this summer.

Rather than losing their long-serving striker on a free transfer at the end of the season, would Everton accept a lower offer and could Newcastle be in the perfect place to take advantage? Coincidentally, the Magpies find themselves in a similar situation with Callum Wilson, who will be out of contract next summer when the two-year deal he penned in September last year comes to an end.

Both Everton and Newcastle are facing major calls over their strikers over the coming months - and from the Magpies point of view, a move for Calvert-Lewin could satisfy one of their needs for the January transfer window and provide their manager with their services of a player he is believed to have admired for a number of years.