Newcastle need to sign Loic Remy on a permanent basis

Loic Remy has been a hit at Newcastle since his summer loan move from QPR

On-loan Newcastle striker Loic Remy has been a big hit at St James Park, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances for the Magpies since his summer arrival from QPR.

The Frenchman’s goals have helped Newcastle into a position where they have an outside chance of capturing a European spot this season.

Surprised

Manager of parent club Harry Redknapp is surprised that the Magpies have not yet activated a clause in his contract to make him a permanent Newcastle player. The Hoops boss told West London Sport:

“I don’t know what the deal is. You’d think they’d want to snap him up, wouldn’t you? If they don’t then someone else will,”

“For what we got him for, he’s probably worth double that now. He’s scored goals in the Premier League again this year.”

Brinksmanship

Redknapp is famous for his business dealing and this could be a ploy to raise the Frenchman’s price. The Hoops are currently third in the Championship table and looking for promotion to the Premier League.

There is talk of Remy returning to Rangers if they are promoted, but that is not Redknapp’s wish. Redknapp said: “That’s all ifs and buts,”

“You’ve got to get there first, and if someone came and offered £15m or £16m for him I’d sell him if it was my choice but it’s not, it’s down to the chairman.”

That is yet more mind games from Redknapp. He is attempting to add a few million on Remy’s transfer fee for the summer.

Favourites

Obviously Newcastle are favourites to seal the summer signing of the France international, as he is already at the club and apparently the Magpies do have first option on signing the striker. However, there does not seem to be a set fee for the transfer.

Linked

Remy’s goalscoring form this and last season has led to the French striker being linked with a move to a number of clubs. Natural goal scorers are hard to find in the modern game and he is starting to look like one.

His goals have obviously attracted attention and a club playing Champions League football may just nip in and sign the striker if Newcastle do not act early enough. Remy has even admitted that he does not know whether he will be at St James Park next season.

Arsenal are a club believed to be ready to follow up their interest in the striker. However, with forward Theo Walcott picking up a long-term injury they may choose to sign somebody in the January transfer window.

Needed

Loic Remy was the player that Newcastle were crying out for this season. The Magpies had not made any summer signings until Remy arrived and he was the striker that Newcastle were badly in need of this season.

The French international leads the line and is a big threat to defences. Although his goals have dried up slightly in recent weeks, he scored a brace against Stoke in the Magpies 5-1 victory on Boxing Day. Remy is a streaky striker, when he gets on a scoring run he will score a bag full of goals, but will then go four or five games without a goal.

However, he is still a very good player to have in your team and will always get into the positions to score, even if he is not hitting the back of the net.

Outsiders

The Magpies are currently outsiders for the Champions League places this season at odds of 50/1, but the club from the north east are just six points behind fourth place Liverpool in the Premier League table.

If Remy can hit top form again then they cannot be completely ruled out of the race for the top four, especially in this season of surprise results. In the unlikely event that the Magpies do qualify for the top four,  it could be enough to convince Remy to stay and the Newcastle hierarchy to shell out the necessary fee for the French striker.

If not then there are bound to be a number of clubs ready to sign the French striker this summer and Newcastle could be losing a very good striker.

Will Newcastle sign Loic Remy on a permanent basis in the summer?