Newcastle have reportedly been named a price for forward Ademola Lookman as they look to add players to their front line.
According to reports from Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, RB Leipzig have told the Magpies that if they want to get the 22-year-old Englishman on Tyneside, they have to pay ‘at least’ £22m – the fee that Leipzig paid in the summer.
The reporter stated that the club ‘would only entertain offers’ which are that of the same as what they paid for the England U21 international, so whether that means more than that is yet to be seen.
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The only thing that seems to be preventing this transfer happening so far is the price that is needed to be paid for the forward.
Over £22m is a lot of money for a player that hasn’t been a regular at any team for the past 18 months, so you can see where the hold up is coming.
While a deal could well be agreed to take him on loan, it is still likely to mean there will be an obligation to spend that much in the summer.
Furthermore, with the player’s best position being on the left-wing – the same as Allan Saint-Maximin – so there’s no guarantee that he would be a starter here, even if he does have the capabilities of playing all across the frontline.
Who would you rather see at St James' Park?
Ademola Lookman
Jarrod Bowen
Neither, thanks
Also, at the price of £22m they could also have a serious chance of snapping up Jarrod Bowen from the Championship. Bowen might be slightly older and has not played at the same high level as Lookman, but his statistics in the Championship are frightening for a winger and he could add that goalscoring prowess that the Toon so desperately need.
Bowen has already scored 16 goals this season in the league. After 22 games thus far in the Premier League Newcastle collectively have just five more. In Lookman there is a tricky dribbler and great runner, but they also have that in Saint-Maximin; Bowen is less exciting on the ball but is prolific in front of goal – something Toon don’t really have at the moment.
If Toon could snap up the winger on a loan deal then that could be some great business, but they might feel they can spend that money better elsewhere if they are forced to spend over £22m on him in the summer.