Yoshinori Muto is yet to get off the mark for La Liga side Eibar following his summer loan move from Newcastle United.
After failing to impress Steve Bruce in pre-season, the 28-year-old Japanese international was sent to Spain to try to revive his career after struggling to hit it off with Rafa Benitez or the current Toon boss in the last two seasons.
Muto - who cost United £9.5million from Mainz 05 - in 2018 scored just twice for the Magpies in all competitions but could not nail down a place, even during some injury-plagued weeks towards the end of the season.
This term Muto has started just three times and was taken off in every game while the striker has made a handful of substitute appearances. The former Bundlesliga man is yet to score for his latest club.
Eibar are currently hovering just above the relegation zone and have a tough schedule next month when they face Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona before the turn of the year.
Eibar's sporting director Fran Garagarza directed a swipe at Newcastle after his loan move to Spain when he said: "Newcastle told us, either you reach some figures or Muto does not leave."
He then suggested the Toon hierarchy crumbled and accepted the original terms set, Garagarza said: "We told them that it was impossible.
"A week later the Japanese forward arrived on loan to Eibar for the figures that we initially told them."
However, unless Muto's form improves the chances of Newcastle recouping anywhere near his £9.5million fee remain slim and should Eibar snub a permanent deal, the Magpies will again be forced to pay the majority of his £54,000 per week wages in what has proved to be a disastrous deal for the club.
