A big ‘exclusive’ has emerged from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards in the last few moments, revealing TWO strikers we look set to pursue this summer.
He confirms that the signing of a new forward has been prioritised and Benfica’s Darwin Nunez was the top target, however it seems we’ve been forced to look elsewhere after the 22-year-old made it clear he wants to play Champions League football next season.
As a result, Edwards claims that we are now eyeing up a move for Brentford star Ivan Toney – the man Rafa Benitez sold for just £650,000 back in 2018.
Toney has proven himself at Premier League level this season, scoring 14 times in all competitions for the newly promoted Bees while also displaying his ability to hold up the ball, work hard and create space for others when dropping deep.
The Telegraph report that Brentford will demand ‘upwards of £30m’ for the 26-year-old, however it’s not yet known what he would make of a potential return to Tyneside – even if he is known to be ‘keen’ on a move to a ‘bigger club’ this summer.
Elsewhere, the same piece reveals that we will revisit a deal for Reims forward Hugo Ekitike.
The 19-year-old was close to completing a deadline day move to Tyneside worth an initial £12m, but that deal broke down as the Frenchman was reluctant to leave his boyhood club just a few months into his breakthrough season.
Edwards insists that we will continue to keep an eye on Nunez’s situation, just incase his stance changes or a lack of Champions League offers actually come his way, however it seems like Toney and Ekitike could be the two we target this summer.
Been saying we should resign Toney since early January. However, he recently was spotted on a posted a video on social media while partying in Dubai saying f-you to Brentford, wtf? Doesn’t paint him in the best light, maybe why Rafa got rid of him?
Nufc 11(Quote)
Toney is an unpleasant guy high on himself and has said very bad things about his current club … don’t want him in the dressing room. And I doubt Eddie Howe would either
Mike(Quote)