Newcastle are keen to sign TSG Hoffenheim striker Joelinton according to the Chronicle, but Rafa Benitez is yet to sign off on the Brazilian’s capture.
Instead, they claim the boss is hopeful of retaining West Bromwich Albion’s Salomon Rondon, despite the board’s reluctance to meet the Venezuelan’s £16.5million release clause due to his age.
The Spaniard would then like to add a contrasting option to our attack to replace the outgoing Joselu, whose future at St James’ Park appears as bleak as it can get following a campaign which returned three goals in 20 games across all competitions.
Benitez is determined for his compatriot’s replacement to be a young forward whom he can mould into a top class talent, and this could be Club Brugge’s Wesley Moraes. The Brazilian has been heavily linked with a move to Tyneside in the recent weeks having said his goodbyes to the Blauw-Zwart fanbase following the climax of the Jupiler Pro League season.
The board, however, seem to prefer Hoffenheim’s Joelinton, and are thought to be willing to spend £40million to land the 22-year-old, who scored eleven times in all competitions in the recently concluded German season, and was credited with nine assists.
Benitez, though, has not yet given any assurances that he is convinced the Alianca-born forward is the one he can develop while learning from an experienced striker such as Rondon.
Chelsea-owned forward Tammy Abraham has also been linked with a move to St James’ Park by the Northern Echo, but a move for the England U21 international is not dependant on Benitez’s future at the helm, which is thought to be the case when it comes to Rondon, and potentially Moraes and Joelinton.