Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez makes Watford ace Troy Deeney No 1 January target
TROY DEENEY has emerged as Newcastle United's top transfer target.
The Watford striker is just what Toon boss Rafa Benitez needs to beef up his flagging front line.
Sources have told ESPN FC that Newcastle officials have asked the Hornets about Deeney's availability this month.
Benitez has next to no choice but to make a front man one of his main priorities.
United have scored just 20 times in 22 Premier League games this season.
Goal-starved home fans have seen just nine in 11 matches.
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Newcastle's obvious struggle for goals has been a contributing factor to their poor form, although they did win at Stoke City last time out.
Dwight Gayle and Joselu are Newcastle's joint-top goalscorers this season with three goals each.
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Benitez wants to add more firepower to his squad to help them move clear of trouble at the wrong end of the table.
Deeney, 29, could add goals and guile to United in the second half of the season.
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His future at Watford is surrounded by doubt with the Hornets captain failing to hold down a regular spot in Marco Silva's starting XI.
Deeeney has started just seven Premier League games so far this season, with six coming from the bench.
He's netted just twice with Andre Gray being preferred by manager Marco Silva.
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But, overall, Deeney has 108 goals for Watford in 317 games.
And he's added some much-needed spirit to the Newcastle dressing room.
Having just completed a four-match ban for his second red card of the season, Deeney accused Arsenal of lacking "cojones" earlier in the season.