Newcastle Jets ramp up efforts to secure star strikers
He sent the A-League global with one strike while wearing a Newcastle jersey, now the Jets are preparing an audacious deal to secure the return of scorpion specialist Riley McGree.
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Newcastle Jets will make a fresh attempt to re-sign leading scorer Roy O’Donovan within the next 24 hours, as rival A-League clubs circle the Irish striker.
Though negotiations between Newcastle and O’Donovan have not yet come close to agreement, Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna remains confident he will be able to strike a deal within days.
Newcastle are also preparing an audacious bid to secure the return of scorpion specialist Riley McGree, as coach Ernie Merrick targets extra firepower for next season.
But they will face competition from several clubs for O’Donovan’s signature in particular, with both Adelaide and Central Coast actively in the market for a striker.
Proven goalscorers remain the A-League’s most prized commodity and O’Donovan scored 11 goals in 19 games for the Jets, having been banned for the first eight games of the season over his head-high challenge on Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas in last year’s grand final.
The Jets fought hard to have his suspension reduced, without success, and McKinna said the relationship between club and player had been mutually beneficial.
“Roy has really settled in Newcastle — he’s been very good for us, and I think the club has been good for Roy too in terms of what happened at the end of last season,” McKinna said.
“His record this season was outstanding, we know he’s a proven goalscorer. That’s why we want to keep him at the club — he’s a big part of our jigsaw puzzle for next season.
“Why would you not want to keep someone, and have to go through all of the work involved in trying to bring in someone from outside?”
McGree, meanwhile, will be the target of a speculative bid from the Jets to secure him on loan again from Club Bruges, 12 months after his spectacular goal took Newcastle to the grand final which resulted in O’Donovan’s suspension.
The 20-year-old opted to move to Melbourne City at the start of this season, also on loan, but the future of a number of players remains unclear with uncertainty surrounding whether coach Warren Joyce will return next season.
Defenders Ritchie De Laet and Bart Schenkeveld are both expected to return to Europe at the end of City’s campaign, with the latter’s financial demands neutralising putative interest from other A-League clubs.
Sydney FC had been strongly linked with the Dutchman, who has been outstanding for City this season, with compatriot Jop van der Linden certain to leave Sydney at the end of the season and teammate Ben Warland out at least until next January having ruptured his ACL.
Sydney will also lose centreback Aaron Calver to new club Western United.
Meanwhile Western Sydney’s squad overhaul continues apace, with Roley Bonevacia joining Oriol Riera and Alex Baumjohann in passing through the exit door in the wake of another disappointing season for the Wanderers.
Bonevacia has been linked with Perth, though Diego Castro’s re-signing on a two-year deal has cast doubt on Glory’s ability to fit the Dutchman into the salary cap.