According to Turkish outlet nethaber.com, Newcastle are amongst a number of clubs interested in Vedat Muriqi.
What’s the story.
It appears that a whole host of Premier League side are eyeing the Kosovo international.
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The report says that Burnley, Manchester United and Leicester are also keen, whilst Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco are also linked with an interest. Apparently, a €35m (£29.5m) fee is “expected” for the 25-year-old.
Exactly what they need
Newcastle’s struggles in front of goal are no secret so far this campaign. In the English top tier, they have managed just 24 strikes – there is only one side in the whole division which has managed less. That has been mainly down to a distinct lack of firepower up front – Joelinton has scored just once in 25 games in the league to date, whilst Andy Carroll has failed to hit the back of the net. Yoshinori Muto, currently injured, has managed just one.
Muriqi, though, is a proven goalscorer in Turkey. Currently playing for Fenerbahce, he has 13 goals in 22 matches this term, and that return is no flash in the pan. Last term at Caykur Rizespor, he scored 17 in 36, whilst he also has eight goals in 23 matches for his country. With 1.7 key passes and one dribble per match this season in the Super Lig, the 25-year-old clearly has ability.
At £29.5m, he would not come cheap – that would make him the Magpies’ second most expensive signing in their history – and, as Joelinton has proven during his stay in Tyneside, a big fee does not guarantee success at the highest level. However, Muriqi is a goalscorer, and that is exactly what Steve Bruce is crying out for – they were linked with the likes of Olivier Giroud and Jarrod Bowen during the January transfer window, but they were unable to complete a deal for either. Now, they will have to wait until the summer, but they could do an awful lot worse than this striker.
Meanwhile, Newcastle target this 22-year-old once compared to Neymar.