Mystery striker in talks with NUFC over potential ‘club record’ deal – here’s 10 ideas as to who it could be

It was revealed by the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder earlier today that Newcastle are now in talks with an unnamed striker who would become the club’s record signing if a deal was completed.

No name was mentioned, but what we do know is this must mean the mystery striker is worth at least £17m pounds.

With this in mind, here’s a few ambitious names that it *might* just be..

Islam Slimani (Leicester)

Has been linked with a loan move to NUFC in recent weeks however Leicester may be far more inclined to sell. He’d suit Rafa’s system (1 up top) and has proven he can score goals in the past, bagging 31 goals for Sporting Lisbon the season before he joined Leicester. It’s possible, but would we pay over £16m for a man turning 30 this year?

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)

The 28-year-old is an undoubted talent when fit, but he so rarely is. He’s set to be moved on by Liverpool this month and is believed to have been a loan target of Benitez’s, however there’s been indications recently that they prefer to sell. He could reignite his career in England at NUFC, however it’d be a huge risk to spend that sort of money on a player with his injury record.

Vincent Aboubakar (Porto)

It was reported at one stage in the summer window that we were in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the Cameroonian striker. A fee of £9m was suggested at the time, however he ended up staying with Porto and has since struck an incredible 25 goals in 30 games so far this season. His price-tag will have therefore gone up considerably, but his pace and power could mean he’s tailor made for the Premier League, and at 26, he’s a good age too.

Kevin Gameiro (Atletico Madrid

It would seem unlike Ashley to break our transfer record on a 30-year-old, however Gameiro is a striker whose promised goals wherever he’s been. He has allegedly been offered to Premier League clubs after slipping down the pecking order in Spain after the arrival of Diego Costa at Atletico Madrid. Unlikely, but he’s the sort of striker who could fire us to safety.

Moussa Dembele (Celtic)

He’s unsettled at Celtic but a huge young talent. It was recently reported that Brighton had an £18m bid accepted for him, but that one seems to have stalled. Could NUFC have made their move for the 21-year-old who scored a stunning 32 goals last season? Maybe.

Bas Dost (Sporting Lisbon)

He’s been on NUFC’s radar for years now and continues to score stupid amounts of goals in the Portuguese league. Sporting Lisbon could easily price us out of a move, making this a non-starter, but he’s now 28 and might just fancy a crack at English football.

Troy Deeney (Watford)

It was claimed recently by ESPN that he was Rafa’s top target this month, with suggestions that he’d be brought in to offer Premier League experience and a presence in the box that we’ve been missing so far this season. He’d be an underwhelming record signing and I can’t see us paying that much for a 29-year-old, but don’t rule it out.

Danny Ings (Liverpool)

Really doubt he’d demand a transfer fee over £16m, but he appears to be a player Rafa was very keen to sign on loan. I think Liverpool would cash in on him if the right offer arrived..

Willian Jose (Real Sociedad)

Another ambitious suggestion, but he was a player the Chronicle confirmed we had our eye on over the summer. He has 14 goals so far this season in La Liga, but is also 26 (a good age) and 6ft 2′ tall so a good mould for Rafa’s lone striker role at NUFC. Like Dost, I get the feeling it’d take much more than £20m to get him away from his current club however.

Shola Ameobi (Notts County)

Let us know who you think it might be folks. Our money’s on the Mackem Slayer!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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