According to the Daily Star, Newcastle are keen to seal the signing of Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Vidar Orn Kjartansson, with manager Rafa Benitez continuing his desperate search for attacking reinforcements.
The Toons finally opened their league goal account over the weekend during the 3-nil victory over West Ham, but the Spanish coach is far from convinced that his current striking options are up to the task.
Benitez wants Kjartansson, a 27-year-old Iceland international, and could pay Maccabi’s reported £8million asking price in order to bring his man in before Thursday’s deadline.
Kjartansson emerged top scorer in his maiden Israeli Premier League campaign last term, notching 19 league goals in 33 appearances.
The former Jiangsu Sainty and Malmö FF frontman is an aerial threat, and coupled with his exquisite finishing prowess, he could prove a worthy buy for Newcastle.
However, while he has been prolific over the years across Iceland, Norway, China and Israel, there remains a huge question mark over his ability to hit the ground running in the English Premier League.
Kjartansson would have been the perfect striking experiment had it been the club were still in the Championship.
Ditching Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle for an unproven player at the highest level would be a huge, and perhaps, uncalculated risk. Benitez is apparently aware of this, and is ready to take it just to save his season.
