Newcastle Fans Reveal Which Striker They Want To Sign If Charlie Austin Rejects Magpies

Who should the Magpies opt for if they fail in their pursuit of Austin?

By Chris Waugh /

Newcastle United supporters have revealed which striker they would most like to sign if the club fail to recruit Charlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers - with Wolfsburg's Bas Dost the Toon faithful's clear preference. In a whatculture.com/nufc poll, Newcastle fans were asked to select from six strikers - plus "other" if they preferred an alternative name - as to who they would most like to see arrive at St James' Park should the Magpies fail to recruit Austin. And it was Dutch hitman Bas Dost who ran away with it - as 43% (637 votes) of the 1,486 Newcastle fans opted for the 26-year-old, who netted 20 goals in 36 Wolfsburg appearances last season.
Dost could move to Tyneside in a £9 million deal this summer, although Borussia Dortmund are also interested in the two-cap Holland striker. Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion forward Saido Berahino - who would cost at least £20 million - came in second with 18% (264 votes), while former Toon striker Demba Ba received 240 votes (16%). But Ba will not be returning to Tyneside this summer after the Besiktas forward agreed to move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua instead.
Another ex-Magpies favourite Andy Carroll (West Ham United) received 8% of the vote, with 5% wanting Watford's Troy Deeney and a paltry 2% opting for Crystal Palace's Dwight Gayle. Interestingly, a full 7% of Newcastle fans who responded (107 votes) opted for "Other", meaning they would prefer to see a different forward on Tyneside next season - for example Anderlecht's Aleksandar Mitrovic. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to followwhatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.