Newcastle have apparently joined the race to sign Cagliari frontman Victor Ibarbo, who has been christened as the 'new Faustino Asprilla'. With just a year to run on his contract in Sardinia it looks increasingly likely that Ibarbo will depart the Serie A side in the summer with the Shields Gazzette confirming our interest in the Colombia international. Losing Shola Ameobi, Luuk De Jong and Loic Remy at the end of the season means we currently have just one senior striker on the books and Magpies boss Alan Pardew is conscious that he needs to improve a forward line that struggled for goals last season without Remy in the team. Although we're not convinced that Ibarbo is necessarily the man for the job. The 24-year-old is clearly a talent judging from the interest shown in him from around Europe but a return of five goals in 23 starts doesn't make for great reading. Plus three of those came in one game against Sampdoria when he became the first Colombian since Asprilla to score a hat-trick in Italy's top division. Cagliari are resigned to losing him during the close-season with sporting director Nicolo Salerno hinting that he hopes the World Cup will drive up his valuation. At the moment its impossible to speak about the market as hes going to the World Cup," he said He is very likely to end up at a big European club.
Now it is important that he has an important World Cup.
Any increase on his current £8 million asking price and Newcastle will surely renege their interest in Ibarbo. We'd view it as a blessing in disguise.
