£60m striker now NUFC’s top target, with loan star, Botman & bargain buys also eyed up – Report

According to i news, Newcastle United are stepping up their summer transfer plans now our Premier League status looks more and more likely to be maintained.

In his latest piece, Mark Douglas states that one player of particular interest is Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, claiming the Uruguayan international has been identified as a ‘prime target.’

He reports that we were quoted £50m for the highly-rated forward back in January, but it’s believed it’ll now take a bid of around £60m to lure him away after he’s scored 25 goals in 32 games for the Portuguese giants this season.

Elsewhere, a permanent move for Matt Targett looks likely with an ‘agreement in place’ for the impressive Aston Villa loanee, while a fresh move for Lille centre-back Sven Botman also looks likely.

Douglas then reveals that we are taking a close look at a series of ‘high-profile free agents’. No names are mentioned, but we have been linked with a whole host of players who will see their contracts expire this summer.

The likes of Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan), Florian Grillitsch (Hoffenheim) and James Tarkowski (Burnley) come to mind.

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.

8 thoughts on “£60m striker now NUFC’s top target, with loan star, Botman & bargain buys also eyed up – Report

  1. Darwin Nunez looks a real talent, but for that money I’d go for Patrik Schich – he just looks made for a Howe team.

    Targett is a no brainer. I thought he was a decent player at Villa, but the way he’s came in hitting the ground running is so impressive. He’s one of the best LBs in the league imo & for £15m – absolute steal!!.

    Lingard and Kamara are no brainers too – but it has to be Dreynar over Tark for him. Tark is no better than Lascelles imo and looks lost without Mee alongside him.

      (Quote)

  2. Olly Hawkins: These weren’t mentioned in Mark Douglas’ piece. I was just naming a few soon-to-be free agents we’ve been linked with.

    Olly – I know you are just reporting on rumours, but who would you like to see in mate?.

      (Quote)

  3. Sharpy17: Olly – I know you are just reporting on rumours, but who would you like to see in mate?.

    I think Darwin Nunez could be brilliant and the sort of signing who could grow with us.

    I rate Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby very highly and think we’d be electric in attack with him and ASM either side of a top striker!

    Would love to see us bring in another quality midfielder. Conor Gallagher is someone I’d go all out for & I also like Seko Fofana (Lens skipper who has been outstanding in France). Both could add a bit of drive to our midfield, but it’ll be interesting to see how we approach that area of the pitch after Joelinton/Willock have really stepped up since Howe arrived.

    Ward-Prowse is another, yet you wonder if we’d go for someone like him now we have the likes of Bruno/Shelvey.

    Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta is very close to Bruno Guimaraes (former Lyon teammate and fellow Brazilian international), so he might be one to watch too. I could also see Tammy Abraham (now at Roma) being someone Howe would like. He’d fit the bill IMO.

    As for centre-backs, Joe Gomez could be worth pursuing now he’s slipped down the pecking order at Liverpool. I also rate Mohammed Salisu at Southampton.

      (Quote)

  4. Olly – love all of them mate.

    Connor Gallagher is the one I keep forgetting about but really rate him highly. I’d love to see him come in too ??.

    I was talking Tammy Abraham with a lad I work with as well. He’s nearly joined on loan a while back. He’s doing great out in Roma – but I think he’d be mega money at the moment. Really good player though & I’d defo take him.

      (Quote)

  5. Sharpy17:
    Olly – love all of them mate.

    Connor Gallagher is the one I keep forgetting about but really rate him highly.I’d love to see him come in too ??.

    I was talking Tammy Abraham with a lad I work with as well.He’s nearly joined on loan a while back.He’s doing great out in Roma – but I think he’d be mega money at the moment.Really good player though & I’d defo take him.

    Mind you, with the issues at Chelsea, it may be that they’ll rely on the likes of Gallagher even more and give him the game time he’ll be desperate for if they’re losing players left, right and centre and aren’t able to spend…

      (Quote)

  6. Olly Hawkins: Mind you, with the issues at Chelsea, it may be that they’ll rely on the likes of Gallagher even more and give him the game time he’ll be desperate for if they’re losing players left, right and centre and aren’t able to spend…

    Olly – I think the club will be sold, but they won’t have the blank cheque book they are used to.
    So many of their defenders are out of contract in the summer & they’ll have a 37yr old Tiago (or however old he is) who can’t play every game.

    The point I’m taking an age to get to is the new owners may need to sell some of the fringe player and trim down just how many players are on their books to raise money to replace those leaving.

    That said, they could send Saul back to Athletico & keep Gallagher instead.

    Broja is another they’ll need to decide on.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *