Newcastle United are now racing to sign an AFCON-winning defender this summer, who is represented by the same agency as current star Anthony Gordon.
Howe: Newcastle can be "an outstanding team"
There was no room for an upset against Qarabag as far as Newcastle were concerned on Wednesday night. The Magpies ignored the pressure and thumped the Azerbaijan side 6-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie, with Gordon netting four goals.
But for the momentary spat between Kieran Trippier and Gordon over the latter's decision to take his second penalty and score his fourth goal of the evening, rather than handing Nick Woltemade the chance, it was the perfect evening for Newcastle.
Having his say on his side's thrashing, Eddie Howe told reporters: "My hope is that it just re-affirms our belief that we can be an outstanding team.
"When we’re at our very best, we can be a match for anybody. I’ve always maintained this season that we can be, it’s of course finding this level as much as we can, as consistently as we can."
Gordon and Trippier also made sure to clear any tension, with the latter saying in his post-match interview: "Obviously Gordy had scored a hat-trick and I think about other players and I wanted Nick to take the penalty.
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Newcastle United secured a phenomenal 6-1 triumph over Qarabag in the Champions League last night.
"But also he [Gordon] is our penalty taker, so he wants to score goals, as everybody else does, but ultimately he’s the penalty taker.
"Listen in football, emotions are high on the pitch at times, but it is what it is. He scored four goals, he was unbelievable today and now we move on."
It shows what this Newcastle side are capable of and where they could be with further backing this summer, especially if that backing results in the arrival of an AFCON-winning star.
Newcastle racing to sign Kossounou
The Magpies spent well to welcome Malick Thiaw in the summer, but now they need to find him a long-term partner. And that could come in the form of a Serie A defender.
As reported by Africa Foot and relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle are now battling to sign Odilon Kossounou from Atalanta. The Ivory Coast centre-back took part in AFCON earlier this year and, although he didn't pick up a medal this time, already won the competition in 2023.
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It's also worth noting that he was part of Xabi Alonso's invincible Bayer Leverkusen side as they shocked the rest of Germany to pick up a Bundesliga and cup double without losing a single game.
Now at Atalanta, however, Kossonou's role has faded somewhat. From a Bundesliga winner, the 24-year-old has started just nine Serie A games in what has been a tough season.
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Eddie Howe's side want the in-demand teenager.
Whether that sees him push his agent, who also represents Gordon, to seal a summer exit is now the big question. Atalanta's trash could quickly become Newcastle's treasure and the partner that they've been seeking for Thiaw.
As things stand, it looks like a deal that would suit all parties when the summer transfer window swings open.