Newcastle ‘threat exists’ as they target £66m deal for striker

Newcastle United’s interest in Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is very real as they look to improve their forward line, according to reports in Italy.

Several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United, were interested in signing Osimhen during his time at Ligue 1 outfit Lille.

However, Serie A side Napoli sealed an €80m (£66m) deal for the striker in the summer of 2020 with claims he rejected Man Utd in the process.

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Gazzetta Dello Sport insisted yesterday that Osimhen was interesting both Newcastle and Arsenal in the January transfer window with the Premier League clubs desperate for some more firepower.

And now Calciomercato (via Sport Witness) have more details about the interest from Newcastle specifically with the Geordies now ‘focusing their attention on’ Osimhen after giving up on other targets.

Despite their best efforts to get the striker in January, the report claims that ‘it will be difficult, if not impossible, to develop a negotiation with Napoli in January, but the intermediaries are at work, especially in view of next summer.’

It is understood that the ‘threat exists’ from Newcastle as they make their ‘concrete’ interest in the Nigerian known and Napoli ‘does not close the door’ on a potential deal.

They are however demanding between €70m (£58m) and €80m (£66m) for the striker and Napoli would be willing to ‘sit around a table with Newcastle’ if they met those ‘economic parameters’.

Meanwhile, former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie has hit out at Man Utd for the reported £12m survival bonus they are asking Newcastle to include in any potential loan deal for Jesse Lingard.

“The amount of money Man United are after is ridiculous,” McAvennie told Football Insider. “Lingard wants to play, we all know that. He wants to be playing at the World Cup.

“He isn’t playing at Man United and they won’t let him leave unless it is ridiculous money. He could only play 17 games or something for Newcastle and they want £16million or something?

“Is that a joke? I don’t get that. Newcastle have money but they aren’t going to be taken for idiots. I think Lingard might ask them to chill out a bit because that’s not on.

“If he wants to go, even if it isn’t Newcastle, they have to let him go. There is no reason not to. Man United at the moment, honestly, nothing should surprise me.”