Two Aubameyang Alternatives To Consider

It's not a secret that Saint-Etienne forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Newcastle's top summer transfer target. The Gabon international has lit up Ligue 1 defenses for 19 goals this season, combining tons of speed with the technique and confidence to belt in the odd 20-yarder. Of course, Aubameyang is not toiling in obscurity at this point, with the likes of Spurs and Arsenal also circling the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. In other words, Newcastle should be prepared to look for alternatives if necessary.

Here are two other Ligue 1 wide forwards who might be worth pursuing. While neither would be ideal as a striker, both players would add flexibility to the squad and plenty of fluidity on the pitch.

Romain Alessandrini, Rennes, 24 years old

Our podcast listeners or Twitter followers should be well aware of our love for the Rennes winger, who managed 10 goals in only 22 appearances during his debut season in Ligue 1. He's an exceptionally quick left-footed player who can play as an orthodox left winger, and is capable of putting in quite a good cross, but also offers much more, drifting all over the field to find space. He's also not shy about teeing up a long-range shot on goal. Much like January signing Yoan Gouffran, Alessandrini also works hard to defend his position (1.7 tackles per match)  - something sure to bring a smile to the face of Alan Pardew.

Two more points in Alessandrini's favor: just as his value was about to go through the roof, he tore a ligament in his knee in February. As we saw with Hatem Ben Arfa and Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle is not afraid to bring in a currently injured player if he's talented enough, and Alessandrini certainly fits the bill. Just before that injury, he was called up to the French national team for the first time. Among Alessandrini's teammates in that early February camp? Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy, Moussa Sissoko, and his roommate, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Let the speculation begin.

Dimitri Payet, Lille, 26 years old

After Cabaye and Debuchy already made their own Lille-to-Newcastle moves, negotiators at the two clubs should be pretty familiar with each other.  Following an excellent season - 12 goals and 13 assists in 36 league appearances - Payet is well worth the effort it would take to deal with Lille once more. Much like Ben Arfa, he is a flashy and confident dribbler with an eye for goal who can play from either wing (though he appears to favor his right foot). He's also capable of some gorgeous passing in the final third, something Newcastle has sorely lacked.

This past weekend against Reims, Payet demonstrated everything good about his game - a goal, an assist, a beautiful effort that smacked off the crossbar - though like Ben Arfa, he also turned the ball over a bit more than you'd like to see. There's also the issue of both Lille and Newcastle being sticklers for value in the transfer market. Nonetheless, Payet would certainly be cheaper than Aubameyang, perhaps in the £10 million range.

Of course, the main sticking point in going for a wide forward is a tactical one. Newcastle has to figure out an attacking plan which gets the most from the talents of Aubameyang, Alessandrini, or Payet, as well as its current stars. It doesn't necessarily have to be built around short passing, as Aubameyang has shown at Saint-Etienne, but it can't be unfocused as this season has been.

Comments

[Mike]

What would you guys think about us going after Jozy Altidore?

[Mathew]

Enough of Ligue 1!! Yes there are some good players to be had, but we also need to focus on other areas too!

[Geordieboy]

Why not have a look at Belgium given the number of cracking players out of there recently?? Sure there's another Hazard, Benteke or Felaini there for the grabbing.

[Mathew]

What about the US? There are a lot of kids in college over here that could be plucked into a youth system and develop well. And VERY CHEAP!

[sidekick]

Geordieboy , I would go for Vossen in the Belgian league.
Played for Genk with Benteke in 2011/12 season and scored more goals .
This season , Benteke has scored 19 goals in 37 games for Aston Villa and Vossen has scored 14 goals in 21 games for Genk.
I saw him score a great goal against Chelsea in the champions league and I think he would be a prolific scorer in the Premier league.

[Zack]

@mike

I was thinking the same thing about Altidore. He's scoring lots of goals, and he could be a strong partner for Cissé to play off of. And of course he would be cheaper than the other players being mentioned, and he's only 23 years old.

[Matt]

Definitely agree about the talent coming out of Belgium, just wish I was more familiar with the league. Hopefully NUFC will broaden out from France, but I know Carr et al are there now, and these are players they'll definitely be familiar with, at a good price/age range.

I know Altidore has been scoring for fun for AZ; unfortunately, being prolific in Holland hasn't always been a great predictor of success in England. And for those of us who watch the national team a fair bit, he's frustrated us too much over the years to have an unbiased opinion of him at this point!

[Colin]

Jozy played a season for Hull City in the premier league already...he scored one goal in 28 appearances. Sure, his service was terrible, but still...1 goal. He's struggled to score in spain and turkey as well.

As has been mentioned, scoring goals in the dutch league is not the best indicator for continued success in other leagues. Michael Bradley for example scored 16 goals from central midfield in a season at Heerenveen...he's scored 12 in the 5 seasons since then.

[Trevor]

I always have a secret hope for Jozy coming to the Toon. I just wonder though with Hull back in the League if he wouldn't go back to them first. Personally though, I would love to see him at the Toon. In my opinion, it's only a matter of appropriate service. Jozy has the work rate, but if the service isn't there (which it's not on the USMNT and hasn't been there much for Cisse at NUFC) then no striker is going to impress.

[Dave from Newcastle]

Isn't this all meaningless? Aren't we getting Wayne Rooney?

I think Jozy would be a good move. He can play on a wing or as the guy in the 4-4-2 to hold up the ball and have Cisse play off of him. One advantage with NUFC for Jozy is he won't have to be the #9 since there is one already in place, that will take a lot of pressure off him.

As for the comments about discussing players outside of Ligue 1, until NUFC shows their willingness to do so then Matt and Tom are just providing the most realistic examples for us- although I would love to hear a Wayne Rooney breakdown from them. Come on guys, you got time to waste, right?

[M]

there were 2 'Romain A's available on a free from Ligue 2 teams this time last year... do u think Rennes would do a swap?

[Sameer]

we should scout these Belgian, dutch leagues more and finally get out of france. belgium have some serious talent out there and the talent cycle have moved from France to these countries and also polish league they have some decent players