Newcastle: Who Should Toon Army Target Now That Papiss Cisse Is Staying?

Papiss Cisse will stay at St James’ Park this summer after reaching an agreement with Newcastle United to wear the club shirt that displays the Wonga logo, as reported on the BBC Sport website by Ben Smith. 

But how will this affect Newcastle’s trading in the transfer market?

The Magpies are the only Premier League side yet to land any senior players, and their most pressing need is finding a new striker.

Cisse was rumoured to be on his way out of the club—the 28-year-old had pulled out of Newcastle’s preseason tour of Portugal after refusing to wear the shirt, sponsored by the payday loan company.

Cisse had said that he was unwilling to sport the Wonga logo, as it offended his Islamic beliefs.

The sponsorship deal had already attracted negative press, as seen in this report from BBC News. 

The Senegalese has scored 21 Premier League goals in 50 appearances since arriving at Newcastle in January 2012.

He was at his most lethal in his first season at the club, scoring 13 goals in his first 14 games.

However, he only scored a total of eight during the last campaign, and Newcastle have been low on goals after selling Demba Ba to Chelsea, with just 45 registered in total last term.

Newcastle signed five new players during the January transfer window, but manager Alan Pardew and director of football Joe Kinnear are still keen on bringing in two new strikers, according to Sky Sports.

Over the next few slides, we look at five players who could boost the Magpies’ attack.

Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

Darren Bent

Darren Bent looks like a realistic target for Newcastle.

Currently on the books at Aston Villa, the 29-year-old made just 16 appearances in the Premier League last season, having fallen down the pecking order at the Midlands club.

And Bent appears to have confirmed that he will be leaving Paul Lambert’s side, according to David Kent in the Daily Mail.

Bent has played for Alan Pardew before, at Charlton Athletic, where he scored six goals in 12 games under Pardew's management.

And perhaps Newcastle can offer the Englishman a chance to resurrect his career, which has faltered at Villa Park.

Fulham have also been credited with interest in the striker; however, the London club are said to have pulled out of any potential bid due to Bent’s high wages, as reported by Andrew Dillon in The Sun.

Bafetimbi Gomis: "Baby Drogba"

Newcastle are being linked with Olympique Lyonnais striker Bafetimbi Gomis.

According to reports from Sky Sports, the Magpies are facing competition from Aston Villa, Swansea and Cardiff to sign the 27-year-old.

Lyon chairman and owner Jean-Michel Aulas was quoted in the report as saying: "There is an interest of Newcastle for Gomis. We wait from them to come to us with an offer."

Gomis has impressed for Lyon since joining the club in 2009. He has scored 72 goals and registered 19 assists in 194 appearances for the side.

According to PA Sports (via Transfermarkt), Gomis is looking for a way out of the Ligue 1 club and is valued at £10.5 million.

Apparently nicknamed "Baby Drogba," Gomis could be an excellent piece of business for Newcastle. 

Oscar Cardozo

SL Benfica's Oscar Cardozo has been linked with a host of clubs including Fenerbahce, Cardiff and even Manchester City, as seen in the Daily Mail.

At 30, Cardozo is facing what will probably be his last big transfer, and according to Portuguese newspaper Record (in Portuguese), Newcastle are also showing a keen interest.

The Paraguayan has been at Benfica for the last six years, where he has netted 154 goals for the club—making him Benfica's top foreign goalscorer of all time.

Cardozo has been tipped to be on his way out of the Estadio da Luz, after a public fall-out with manager Jorge Jesus last season.

While Fenerbahce look like the most likely suitors to sign the striker, he would be a superb addition to the ranks at St James’ Park.

Loic Remy

Alan Pardew has confirmed that Queens Park Rangers striker Loic Remy is one of his transfer targets at Newcastle.

According to the Mirror's Alan Nixon, the Magpies are willing to make a cash-plus-player offer for the Frenchman.

Remy impressed in the short time he was in the Premier League with QPR, scoring six goals in 14 appearances for the now-Championship club.

The 26-year-old, formerly of Olympique Marseille, has a relegation release clause in his contract that has seen him linked to a host of clubs in the top flight, including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Everton, according to the Mirror's Matt Law.

Quick, skillful and good in the air, Remy can play in a variety of attacking positions.

He would be a sound choice for Newcastle, where he could play as an out-and-out striker or on the wing, offering good link-up play with Cisse.

Scott Sinclair

Perennial journeyman Scott Sinclair has failed to make an impact at Manchester City since joining the side last summer.

Still just 24, Sinclair went on loan to six clubs while on the books at Chelsea, having joined the Blues from Bristol Rovers in 2004.

He joined Swansea in 2010, where he went on to make 91 appearances in all competitions.

Last season, he signed a deal with Manchester City, where he was tasked with warming the bench in all but 11 top-flight matches.

Still young and undeniably talented, Sinclair would be certain to get playing time at Newcastle.

Earlier this month John Cross reported in the Mirror that Newcastle were keen on bringing him to St James’ Park, with other interested parties rumoured to include Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.

Elsewhere, Jack Wilson of the Express suggests that Liverpool and Swansea are keen on signing the Englishman.