Newcastle target €30m ex-Liverpool striker to be ‘sold immediately’

According to reports, Newcastle United are interested in former Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi, who is valued at €30m by Union Berlin.

The striker signed for Liverpool in 2015 but he did not end up making his senior debut for the Premier League side.

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After seven loan spells elsewhere, Awoniyi joined Union Berlin permanently from Liverpool last summer for around £6m.

The 24-year-old has performed well this term as he has grabbed 17 goals and four assists from his 36 outings. He made his debut for Nigeria last year.

German outlet Bild (via Sport Witness) are reporting that ‘Newcastle would be ready to pay €30m’ for Awoniyi.

They add that the player is ‘very likely’ to be sold by Union Berlin this summer. Their former manager (Christian Beeck) has stated:

“Taiwo has shown that he is a great player with prospects. Is he worth €30m? Ultimately, the money on the market decides that. Union would have to sell him immediately for this amount.”

Elsewhere, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has admitted his side are still in a massive fight to stay in the division after falling to a thumping defeat at Spurs.

“We contributed to that [score]. We were 1-0 up and executing a good plan and we were controlling them as best we could.

“I think we did the first part of the game well. The second goal is the key thing.

“It’s what we didn’t need to do. We chased the game in a way you can’t against this time of team. We took risks and didn’t execute it well enough. Against these teams you have to get every aspect of your game right. In the second half we didn’t.

“They have players who can hurt you. Some of their football will be the highest level. It’s something we’ll have to learn from.

“I don’t think [it will damage] morale. In hindsight we might look back on this as a good thing. It might realign our thoughts and get us back to the basics.

“We’re still in a huge fight to stay in the division. That’s six away games in seven. Now we return home and they’ll be massive games.

“After a second half like that you want to play again very quickly. I want to put the memory of this game away.”