Have Newcastle United made a big mistake?
As the season goes by, both in the Premier League and in the EFL Championship, Newcastle United fans are probably wondering whether Rafael Benitez made a huge mistake by sending Aleksandar Mitrovic on loan to Fulham FC in the Championship.
The 23-year-old Serbian attacker has now scored 7 goals in 8 appearances for Fulham and continues to impress with his impact on the game, while Newcastle's attack has been struggling to find itself among the goals.
Taking Mitrovic's performance at Fulham into consideration, one simply cannot stop thining about what could have been had he gotten more minutes at Newcastle.
The former Anderlecht and Partizan Belgrade marksman has grown in stature in the hearts of the Fulham fans in just a few games, with his devotion to the game and commitment on the pitch. Unsurprisingly, the Lilywhites are already looking for a way to keep him at Craven Cottage permanently.
However, due to his good performance in the Championship, Newcastle is said to have upped his asking price to £20m, making it difficult for the cottagers to get their hands on him. Also with Newcastle fans wanting him back with them, it will surely be a tough task for Fulham to keep hold of the Serbian for long.
Things are looking good for him, as he is now in a way better position than during the last transfer window. This kind of performance will surely buy him a ticket to the World Cup in Russia this summer, and after that only the sky could be the limit for the young gun.
Seeing as how Newcastle United fans have been concerned, it is possible that Rafa will see his potential and use him properly. He has shown both the world and the manager that he has the potential for big things, and that he probably deserves more Premier League minutes - whether in a Newcastle shirt or not will depend on Benitez.
At the moment, Fulham remain fourth in the Championship and favorites to go into the PL through the play-offs. If they do, the club will make a sincere attempt to hold on to their talisman. Even if they don't, other clubs in the PL now know what Mitrovic is capable of.
With age on his side, the future is bright for Mitrovic. For the moment, Fulham fans are lucky to share their moments with him.