Having guaranteed European football for next season – one more win would secure Champions League football – Newcastle may prove to be a popular destination for a number of players this summer.

Whilst the focus will be on bringing in dedicated first team stars, with Bryan Mbeumo and James Trafford thought to be high on the list of targets, younger names and top prospects will also be sought after.

And this could include one of the French league’s top youngsters who could help bolster our attack without breaking the bank.

Emanuel Emegha emerges as top target

Strasbourg star Emanuel Emegha is thought to be emerging as a potential option for Newcastle United.

According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, Toon scouts have taken a closer look at the Dutchman this season, where the 22-year-old has netted 14 times in 27 Ligue 1 outings.

But a battle with another Premier League club for the striker’s signature may be on the cards, with top five rivals Chelsea also keen on the 6ft 4′ talent.

In his report, Ryder reveals that members of Newcastle and Chelsea’s recruitment team have been in Franco to check on his progress. A potential alternative to Liam Delap, perhaps?

The same report estimates that a deal in the region of £18m could be on offer, with Strasbourg set to offer Emegha to English clubs in the upcoming window in a bid to raise funds.

A transfer saga worth getting involved in?

We showed last summer with the signing of Will Osula from Sheffield United we’re willing to pay double digits to get our man if we believe in a young player’s potential.

So if we’ve identified Emegha as a possible signing this summer, and considering his impressive numbers for Strasbourg this season, then a £18m deal seems reasonable.

However, the Chelsea/Strasbourg/BlueCo situation is a difficult one for us to navigate, as Enzo Maresca’s side already have an advantage at the negotiating table.

This will be where the final three European games will prove pivotal to how we perform in the transfer market: where Chelsea has a set plan for Emegha, finishing in the Champions League either alongside or ahead of the Blues could be crucial in attracting not only Emegha to Tyneside, but potentially a lot more of our summer targets.