Alan Shearer names position Newcastle MUST strengthen this summer

Newcastle United have a lot of business to do over the summer as they look to refresh their squad following a testing season.

The Magpies are already off to a flying start, having sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70 million.

It's highly unlikely that Gordon will be the only player sold over the summer, but what's more important is how these players are replaced and who else will join them coming through the door.

A goalkeeper, a full-back, a midfielder and a winger are thought ot be the main priorities for Eddie Howe this summer, but former Newcastle captain Alan Shearer feels that a striker should absolutely be on the list.

Alan Shearer says Newcastle needs to buy a striker

Eddie Howe recently downplayed the need for another striker after Will Osula found form and the £124 million duo of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa started to show promise in training. However, Shearer told Betfair (via The Chronicle) that a new centre-forward would be a 'crucial' signing for Newcastle.

"I think signing a striker for Newcastle is crucial in this transfer window, but you name me a club that does not have a centre-forward that's going to be crucial to their plans.

"Out of the 20 Premier League clubs, I could give you 12 or 13 that are looking for that exact same player. And they're all probably shopping in the same market. They've all got their scouting networks all over the world, looking for the next £70-80 million pound player that will be sold in five or six years' time, but everyone is after that.

"It's a really, really important summer for Newcastle. I do believe last summer's transfer window has set them back two years but we have to accept that and get on with it. They're still in a healthy position, and it'll be a really important, interesting summer ahead for Newcastle."

We agree with Mr Shearer

We'd certainly feel a bit better if a new striker was brought in over the summer, and we wouldn't be opposed to selling Yoane Wissa to facilitate it.

Will Osula has plenty of potential, and as soon as we can learn how best to deploy Nick Woltemade, we feel we've got a top-quality striker, but Wissa has shown us nothing this season to suggest he's going to be a success.

If Wissa does stay, then maybe we could adapt the formation and play two up top to get the best out of him and Big Nick, and if that's the case, we definitely feel that another striker would be a benefit.