Would Connor Wickham be worth the money?

There was a bit of news about yesterday, in the local rags no less, that suggested that NUFC still maintain some interest in Ipswich Town striker, Connor Wickham.

The 18-year-old is regarded as a bright prospect and has been courted by a number of top clubs. At 6ft 3in the lad is already a first-team regular at Championship level and has represented England at every level from schoolboy right up to the under-21's but, and this is the sticking point for me, goals haven't exactly flowed from the Hereford-born striker.

This season he has scored seven goal in 36 league appearances, which isn't great in fairness. Granted the lad has age on his side and can improve, but I wonder if it's a wise move investing so much money in a player who has yet to prove that he can score goals consistently.

Alan Pardew is apparently pursuing other targets first, which is a good thing in my opinion as I reckon we could bet a better deal elsewhere. With Wickham being young and English it means that he is going to attract a premium on his price, for some reason, and would likely cost upwards of £10 million. That money could definitely be spent more wisely in my opinion.

It's a risk that I don't think United can afford to be honest. For £10 million we could get Gervinho or Kevin Gameiro who both have proven goalscoring records, albeit in the French league. In my mind that is a much safer bet than punting the same amount on a kid who has scored 14 goals in 71 Ipswich appearances.

If we had strikers who could be relied upon at the club already, plus the money to do so, then I'd probably try and sign him for the future, but to expect an instant impact from a young lad is too much of a risk.

So whilst Wickham can score goals like this:



My worry is that he doesn't seem to score enough to warrant all of the praise that has been put upon his shoulders. We need a proven goalscorer, and whilst Wickham may turn into one evetually he wouldn't solve our immediate need for a striker.

Would you take a punt on Wickham?