Justin Kluivert of AFC Bournemouth is challenged by Dan Burn of Newcastle United
Newcastle United could have to fork out more than £25million if they decide to go for Justin Kluivert this summer.
The Dutchman is also being tracked by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United after impressing on the South Coast with 13 goals in 31 matches. The son of ex-Newcastle forward Patrick Kluivert was a snip for the Cherries at just £9.6m and has won plenty of plaudits from Premier League pundits.
Kluivert junior passed his audition at St James' Park earlier this season with flying colours when netting a hat-trick in front of watching transfer guru Paul Mitchell. Should Newcastle opt for the 25-year-old it is understood that they will have a slight advantage over Tottenham and Man United because Kluivert is impressed by the project on Tyneside.
The move could hinge on whether Newcastle extend Callum Wilson's contract or allow him to seek potentially more lucrative options in the Saudi Pro League or not. Wilson is back to fitness and has been used as a substitute in recent games, but a question mark hovers above him on his future.
Head coach Eddie Howe has made it clear that he wants to hold on to Wilson and would be open to a new deal. But CEO Darren Eales hinted that stars that aren't 'impacting' first-team minutes on the pitch may be allowed to go.
That was the case in January when Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly were sold and Newcastle could adopt a similar approach in the summer. Speaking on transfers, after a clutch of barren windows, Eales said last week: "To go back to the last three windows, firstly Lewis Hall was signed permanently last summer. So although it feels like he was not a new player as he was on loan, for PSR and the spend we are allowed to do, that transfer happened in that summer window.
"We have also done, since the summer 2023 window, new contracts for Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon, so all of those factors are when we have retained our better players. But increased contract lengths mean increased costs. So we have been tight."
However, the jaws of PSR look to set to open again and a signing like Kluivert that would not break the bank completely would be deemed as a real hit with supporters. Howe may also welcome a star that can inject pace and power into his attack as well as providing quality cover for Alexander Isak.