da poker： Newcastle United endured a miserable transfer record during former owner Mike Ashley’s stint at the helm, with the Magpies having repeatedly made often costly errors in the market, including missing out on potential stars.
da doce： One such figure who eluded the Tynesiders was that of striker Bafetimbi Gomis, with the club unable to add the clinical marksman as part of their influx of French talent in the early 2010s during Alan Pardew’s time in the dugout.
Reports back in the summer of 2013 revealed that the northeast side had agreed an £8m deal for the then-Lyon forward as a replacement for Demba Ba – who had joined Chelsea a few months earlier – although a number of factors, including agents fees, saw the deal stall.
The former Saint-Etienne man – who is close friends with former Newcastle man Moussa Sissoko – is said to have then been open to a move to St James’ Park in the following January, albeit with Ashley and co put off by a reported £1m demand from the player’s representative.
With Gomis then a free agent later in 2014, reports suggest that the Magpies had offered an £85k-per-week wage, albeit with the player holding out for a figure of around £100k-per-week.
That unwillingness to fork out to meet those salary demands ultimately saw the 6 foot 1 striker secure a move to Premier League rivals Swansea City in that same window, with Pardew and co instead turning to the likes of Facundo Ferreyra and Emmanuel Riviere.
There had been high hopes for the latter man, in particular, following his arrival from Monaco, although the former France U21 international would go on to score just one top-flight goal for the club over the next few seasons.
Gomis, by contrast, proved a popular figure during his time at the Liberty Stadium – not least for his memorable goal celebration – as he netted a respectable haul of 13 league goals across his two seasons at the club.
While not a particularly eye-catching record, the now-veteran has proven elsewhere just what a devastating presence he is in front of goal, with the 37-year-old’s overall club career tally standing at 340 goals in 739 games in all competitions.
That haul notably includes a remarkable record of 95 goals in 244 games at Lyon and 107 goals in 147 games at Saudi side Al-Hilal – among other impressive stints – while he has 45 goals in just 66 games at current side Galatasary across two spells, with four Super Lig goals to his name in just eight appearances so far this term.
Such an outstanding record would seemingly illustrate that Newcastle made a mistake in not doing more to secure his services when they had the chance, with the 12-cap machine having proven himself an almost guaranteed supply of goals wherever he has been throughout his career.