Nigeria's captain Ahmed Musa reacts during the African Cup of Nations qualifier match between South Africa and Nigeria on November 17, 2018 at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP) (Photo credit should read PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)
According to TEAMtalk (h/t Chronicle Live), Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign Ahmed Musa. The forward, who is now a free agent, wants to return to English football. A lot of other clubs in England, Spain, Italy and Russia are also interested in him.
Ahmed Musa is a 28-year-old Nigerian forward who is currently a free agent after leaving Al-Nassr last month. He started his youth career at GBS Football academy and had loan spells at local clubs like JUTH FC and Kano Pillars.
In 2010, he moved to Europe with Dutch side VVV Venlo. Until he was 18, he was ineligible for the transfer. Just as soon as the age criteria was fulfilled in October that year, he was drafted into the team and given his debut. In 42 appearances for them, he scored 10 goals and assisted 12 more.
Following that, CSKA Moscow signed him in 2012. He would enjoy a prolific spell there for 4 and half seasons before Leicester City came calling. However, he would not enjoy the same level of success there as made just 33 appearances before returning back to CSKA on a short term loan.
In total he made 184 appearances for the Russian side, scoring 61 goals and assisting 34 (h/t Transfermarkt). On his return from loan, Musa was signed on a permanent by Al-Nassr where he spent the last two seasons. The forward is the captain of the Nigerian team and has 87 caps and 15 goals to his name.
While Callum Wilson is firing on all cylinders right now and Dwight Gayle as an able backup, Newcastle don’t really look like they need another striker. Remember they also have Joelinton who they signed last season and lastly there is Andy Carroll.
Now, those are quite a lot of strikers already for a club that rarely uses two in their formations. At the moment Newcastle can do away without a new frontman. They could, however, use players in other departments such as midfield or defence.
Ahmed Musa’s last English sojourn wasn’t quite a happy one as he struggled to get games and even when he did, he struggled to perform.
At Newcastle, he will again have to compete with too many players for his position and it could well turn out that he warms the benches for the club. Keeping all those factors in mind, Newcastle can afford to not sign Musa right now.
