A new striker has to be near the top of Eddie Howe’s wishlist for the summer after seeing Newcastle United’s struggles in front of goal last season. While the Magpies showed tremendous improvement in the second half of the previous campaign, rising from relegation battlers to 11th in the Premier League, they were still not a free-scoring side by any stretch of the imagination.
Neither Callum Wilson nor Chris Wood were able to find the back of the net on a consistent basis last season and as a result, it would be a major surprise if the club did not add another striker to their ranks this summer.
It had looked like they were close to signing Hugo Ekitike from Stade Reims but as that deal has dragged on, it looks like there is a possibility that Newcastle United might potentially have to move their eyes elsewhere.
They seem to still have some big targets though. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Express), Newcastle will offer a ‘significant sum’ for Victor Osimhen of Napoli in an attempt to rival Arsenal and Manchester United in the transfer race for the striker.
Newcastle United could make huge offer for striker in race with Arsenal and Manchester United
Osimhen is one of the most highly-rated young strikers in Europe right now and has been for a while. He was one of the key reasons why Napoli were able to remain within touching distance with AC Milan and Inter Milan in the Serie A race last season.
The Nigerian striker has been linked with a big move away from Napoli for a while but that has not materialised yet. Could it happen this summer?
Not only would Osimhen be an incredible signing for Newcastle United, but he would also be a statement signing for the new ownership of the Magpies.