Former Sunderland star Kevin Phillips has urged Newcastle United to make the ambitious move to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund once their takeover is completed. The Magpies are set to be taken over by the PCP Capital Partners led consortium and reports have emerged that they would be finally backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The Tyneside outfit can’t go on a large spending spree during the summer due to the restrictions because of the Financial Fair Play. Still, they can make the use of the revenue already present at the club while the sale of unwanted players would also boost their transfer kitty. As such, the club have the opportunity of making a few marquee signings and Phillips believes the club should think for the long-term with the capture of Haaland.
He told Football Insider: “If you are rebuilding a side you want a player that is going to be there for five or six years. If Newcastle are serious and they have mega-cash why not be ambitious and put a bid in for somebody like a Haaland? That would be a proper statement. I am not sure if the lad would want to go there but it would be a statement of intent. Cavani would be short-term, a season. I would prefer for them to go for someone with a bit of longevity.”
Haaland made the high-profile move to Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg at the turn of the year after netting 29 goals from just 27 appearances. He has since netted 12 goals from 11 games for Dortmund and has become an instant hit at the club. Haaland is understood to possess a £66m buy-out clause on the contract but that does not get active until the summer of 2022. Dortmund are currently in a strong position to fend off any transfer interest for the Norwegian.