Newcastle United Transfers: 5 Players They Must Sign
2. Andy Carroll (Free Transfer)
Sure, he may be injury prone, he may be inconsistent, he may have a proper dodgy ponytail, and he might like to sup a few too many beers on a school night, but Andy Carroll would bring a huge feel-good factor to St. James' Park.
Let's face it, in the Mike Ashley era, any and every potential for positivity should be grabbed with both hands by the club and its loyal Toon Army.
The former Newcastle striker has clearly been massively hampered by injuries over the last several seasons - Carroll only started three league games for West Ham last season, and his only goal of the campaign came in an FA Cup win over Birmingham City - but the Geordie native is one of those great "what if...?" players.
If he's fit, if he's in form, if he's got a passionate fan base behind him, Andy Carroll is one of those rare players who is literally unplayable on his day. When he's firing on all cylinders, the England international's strength and aggression make him a handful for any defence he comes up against.
Given that Newcastle are in need of any sort of boost right now, bringing a one-time local hero back home might just be worth a punt - particularly as Carroll is now a free agent after his West Ham deal expired.
Whether the striker ever recaptures the form that saw Liverpool fork out £36 million for him in 2011, that's highly unlikely. But still, signing up Andy Carroll - even on a pay-as-you-play arrangement - is a relatively risk-free transfer that could work wonders for both Carroll and the club.