With Paris Saint-Germain’s recent signing of Kévin Gameiro, it appears that Mevlüt Erdinç will now become the club’s forgotten man after a largely disappointing 2010-2011 season in Ligue 1. However, if the Turkish international does leave Parc des Princes there will be no shortage of takers.

Speculation has been rife over the past week or so that Newcastle United will continue their French shopping spree by luring the 24 year-old to St James’ Park, but is it really the right decision for PSG to let Erdinç leave?

Despite a season in which the Turk only netted eight goals and notched one assist, his overall record for the club is very good. Combined with 2009-2010’s tally of 15 goals and two assists, he has scored 22 goals in 51 games for Les Parisiens which is almost one every two games, slightly better than his recent partner Guillaume Hoarau’s tally of 45 goals in 112 games. On this evidence the capital club would be foolish to let him go, so why has he fallen out of favour this season?

Essentially there are two problems with Erdinç. The first; last season was interrupted with injury and a terrible run of form that saw him go without goals for nine and 11-game periods during the season. Coming off the back of 2009-2010 where he was the club’s player of the season, this saw him come in for harsh criticism and the pressure of having to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility for Les Rouges-et-Bleu became too much for him.

The same could be said for Hoarau, who was seen crying after being substituted against Montpellierlast season during a particularly barren run. That spell eventually ended and the rangy 6ft 3in striker rediscovered his scoring touch and helped the club on a surge up the table later on in the season. Hoarau however, is arguably Erdinç’s other problem.

Although both players are different in their appearance and traits; the Turk is a smaller, pacier player and the Frenchman a tall, strong target man, the two play the same role and effectively spend a lot of time stepping on the other’s toes, failing to link up as well as coach Antoine Kombouaré would like. Therefore with the arrival of Gameiro, a proven goalscorer and a predator with pace, and clear and public interest from Newcastle in Erdinç, the club probably see it as good business letting the Turk go and trying to form a successful partnership between Hoarau and Gameiro, one of Laurent Blanc’s potential strike pairing for Les Bleus.

If Newcastle were to sign Erdinç, they would be getting a quality player who has scored goals consistently for both Sochaux and PSG, netting 58 goals in just under 130 games in Ligue 1 and is able to constantly threaten the opposition with his pace and skill. Capable of playing anywhere across the front, either as a winger or a striker, the Turk often combines the simple with the sublime to good effect and will often demonstrate great technical proficiency in his finishing, as evidenced by his second goal v Arles Avignon in January.

Also an international for Turkey, Erdinç has made ten appearances for Ay Yildizlilar to date, particularly impressing at Euro 2008. It is no wonder then that Alan Pardew is such a fan. Speaking to skysports.com he said this about the player:

“Erdinç has always been on our radar. He’s a very good player and that is all I will say at the moment.”

The flames were fanned further this afternoon as the agent for both Erdinç and Blaise Matuidi-another French Newcastle target – admitted that his clients would consider a move to Newcastle.

Pierre Frelot told the Evening Chronicle: “Any player in France would love to come to Newcastle – they are an absolutely fantastic club” before adding, “all the French lads who go there are really enthusiastic about the club and the football public.”

With that said, don’t be too surprised if Pardew makes his move for at least one, if not both of these players in the coming weeks. Otherwise,Lille and Rennes, who have been linked with moves for the Turk, would no doubt be happy to sign him in the hope that he continues his fine goalscoring record in Ligue 1.