Sebastian Andersson celebrates after scoring
Back in July last year, a report from German outlet Kicker (h/t Leeds Live) had mentioned Newcastle United among the potential suitors for Sebastian Andersson, who was plying his trade with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga back then.
Premier League rivals Leeds United and West Brom, Scottish giants Celtic, as well as Bournemouth and Brentford in the Championship, were all understood to be keen on the Swedish international marksman.
However, despite widespread interest from the English clubs, Andersson eventually ended up completing a move to domestic rivals FC Koln.
Sebastian Andersson started his professional career Angelholms FF in the Swedish second-tier before going on to feature for Kalmar FF, Djurgardens IF and IFK Norrkoping in the Allsvenskan. He scored 36 times in 138 appearances for the three clubs combined in the Swedish top-tier.
The 29-year-old’s exploits in his homeland earned him a move to FC Kaiserslautern in the German second-tier back in 2017. Andersson made a big impression with 12 goals and 4 assists in 29 appearances in his debut season.
Following Kaiserslautern’s relegation, he joined Union Berlin and guided the club to top-flight promotion with 12 goals and 5 assists in 2018-19. Andersson enjoyed a sparkling debut season in the Bundesliga last term, scoring 12 times in 33 appearances as Union Berlin secured an impressive 11th-place finish.
The 9-cap Swedish international switched boats to join FC Koln this past summer but has struggled to live up to the expectations. The towering hitman has scored just twice in 10 league appearances, with injuries partly limiting his involvement.
Callum Wilson has shouldered the bulk of Newcastle’s goalscoring workload this season. The summer signing from Bournemouth has contributed with 10 goals and 4 assists from 19 games so far. However, the Magpies have lacked any significant goal contributions from the other strikers in their squad.
Andy Carroll has managed to find the net only once in 12 league appearances while record signing Joelinton has hardly pulled up any trees with 1 goal from 16 outings so far. Dwight Gayle has spent a large fraction of the season nursing an injury. That has further limited Steve Bruce’s options in front of goal.
With Carroll and Gayle both out of contract next summer, signing a new striker should be high on Newcastle’s agenda in the upcoming window. That they have managed just 21 goals in 21 games so far this season pretty much sums up the club’s goalscoring issues.
Sebastian Andersson doesn’t really tick the box as a promising young striker with room for development at 29. But the Swedish international would still be worth a punt for Newcastle United if he is available for a decent fee in the summer.
With Carroll and Gayle looking likely to depart, Andersson would make a good replacement for the underwhelming pair at Tyneside.
Bruce has often tried to utilise Joelinton as a target man alongside the more mobile and pacey Wilson in his two-man attack. Standing at 6ft 3in with a powerful frame, Andersson looks like a centre-forward in a similar mould to the Brazilian. That should make him an ideal alternative to partner Wilson up top.
The 29-year-old has produced some decent returns in the Bundesliga playing for mid-table clubs like Union Berlin and Koln. Anderson still has plenty to offer and looks ready to embrace a bigger challenge in English football. Newcastle should, therefore, reignite their interest in the powerful Swede to bolster their attack next summer.