The Northern Echo is reporting that a Newcastle representative was at Griffin Park on Saturday to scout Brentford winger Said Benrahma.
What’s the story?
Benrahma is said to be of interest to several top-tier clubs, including Arsenal.
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However, the Toon had a representative at the Bees’ victory against Middlesbrough, and the report adds that they were also aware of him before he made the move to the Championship.
Get the best out of Almiron and Saint-Maximin
Newcastle have really struggled in front of goal so far this term – only one team has managed less than their 24 goals in the Premier League – but that has not just been down to Joelinton’s poor strike-rate – the club’s record signing has managed just one goal in 25 starts so far this term.
Both Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin have failed to produced the goods on a regular basis – they have just six goals between them in all competitions so far this term. However, their own performances are perhaps not only to blame for that poor return.
The fact is, they may actually both be better in different positions to the ones Steve Bruce has used them in so far this campaign. Saint-Maximin has been used only on the left wing, whilst Almiron has primarily featured on the right. However the former has actually managed two more goals and one more assist in one more game on the opposite flank according to Transfermarkt – whilst the latter’s most productive campaign to date – he scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in 2018 in the MLS – came when he featured regularly in attacking midfield.
Benrahma has been in top form for Brentford this season, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in 27 league matches – all of those contributions have come from the left flank. As such, signing the 24-year-old could allow Bruce the possibility to use Almiron and Saint-Maximin in arguably their best positions in a three behind the striker. That will also mean the former Sheffield Wednesday boss deploying a more attacking line-up, but that may not be beyond the realms of possibility considering the loan arrivals of Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro in January indicate that he would like to be more expansive.
Bruce has plenty of potential going forward – he just needs to unlock it. The Algeria international may just be the man to help him do it.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are targetting this striker once compared to Neymar.