Newcastle United transfers: The Magpies have been scouting across Europe in preparation for the summer transfer window.
Newcastle United will be in the market to sign a striker this summer.
After last summer’s £119million splurge on Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade has returned eight Premier League goals and none since the turn of the year, Newcastle are prepared to dip into the striker market once again.
The club will be looking to get business done quickly and avoid falling into the same traps as last summer with the Alexander Isak saga. The appointment of Ross Wilson as sporting director and David Hopkinson as CEO should help in that respect.
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Newcastle has expanded its recruitment network abroad and are currently monitoring various markets across Europe.
Away from the obvious, Germany, French, Italian and Spanish markets, Newcastle are also looking at Portugal as a potential area to recruit from, which often represents better value for money than the more high-profile European leagues.
And when turning your attention to Portugal, you don’t need to look far before the league’s top scorer, Luis Suarez, catches your attention.
Newcastle United eye Luis Suarez
The Colombian striker has scored 35 goals in 50 appearances in all competitions for Sporting CP this season.
Various reports have linked Newcastle with a move for the 28-year-old, who is valued at around £40-50million this summer.
Representatives from Newcastle’s recruitment team have recently seen Suarez in action, with Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande also linked.
Suarez has picked up the scoring mantle for Sporting left by Viktor Gyokeres’ departure last summer. Gyokores scored 54 goals in 52 appearances in his final season in Portugal and has largely been a success at Arsenal, with his 21 goals in all competitions.
But there are question marks over whether Newcastle will act on their reported interest in the striker, who turns 29 later this year and this season is the only time he has reached double figures in a top-flight campaign.
Suarez previously spent three years on Watford’s books as a youngster but failed to make an appearance before becoming somewhat of a European journeyman, with nine clubs in the last nine years.
While Newcastle want to get business done quickly, Sporting would prefer to bide their time given Suarez’s likely involvement in the upcoming 2026 World Cup with Colombia, which could see his value rise further.
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