Over the last couple of years Newcastle United have not had the best of luck when it comes to centre-forwards.
Home boy Andy Carroll departed for Liverpool and while the Magpies pocketed a cool £35m for his signature, it left them short of options. Then Demba Ba opted for the glitz and glamour of Chelsea, which passed the goalscoring burden onto Papiss Cisse.
Now, guess what? It appears that Cisse wants out after he branded the club's Wonga shirt sponsorship 'immoral'. If reports are to be believed, some of Europe's bigger clubs have started to circle for his services.
It means that Newcastle are going to need to dip into the transfer market for at least one, but preferably two frontmen before the season gets underway.
Which brings us around to Bafetimbi Gomis, who has been heavily linked with a switch to Tyneside in recent days.
This summer has been littered with strikers switching clubs for eye-popping money - Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani for example cost their respective clubs over £100m between them. Then we have the likes of Wayne Rooney's toys being thrown out of his pram left, right and centre, while Robert Lewandowski is preparing to shack up with Bayern Munich.
© AP Photos
It has all meant that French international Gomis has somewhat gone under the radar. With 12 months left to run on his deal at Lyon, it is believed that he is available for around £5m.
While he is by no means a prolific scorer of goals, 74 goals in 190 outings for his French employers is a record to be proud of. Fourteen of those have also come in European competitions, so he has also proved that he can produce the goods at the highest level.
His physique allows him to hold off challenges from defenders, which should mean that he would have no problem when it comes to dealing with the likes of Stoke City and West Ham United.
Gomis is the type of striker who would provide a perfect foil for his fellow frontmen. He is direct and happy to run in the channels, which in turn would provide more space inside the penalty area for a more clinical marksman.
He is also a creator, having set up four goals for his teammates last season, as well as laying on 23 key passes in more dangerous areas of the pitch.
When all is said and done, there are not too many centre-forwards who would provide such qualities for such a small price tag. Newcastle must act quickly, though, because the likes of Aston Villa, Swansea City, Cardiff City and a host of European clubs are believed to be preparing bids.
Liam Apicella
