Newcastle in talks over pre-contract agreement as Mitchell eyes striker – Report

Newcastle United are reportedly looking to sign Lille striker Jonathan David upon the Canadian’s contract expiring next summer.

In an exclusive from Graeme Bailey and TBR Football, Sporting Director Paul Mitchell is said to be very keen on bringing the 24-year-old to Tyneside, and the club have held talks about “the numbers” it would take to bring David in on a free transfer should a pre-contract be signed in January.

However, Newcastle are not alone in their pursuit, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brighton and West Ham all having the attacker on their radars as well, according to Bailey’s report.

David, who has scored 88 goals since joining Lille in 2020, is expected to have high contractual demands and agent fees, which could once again prove to be a large hurdle Newcastle will have to clear if they hope to secure their man.

With speculation earlier this week that Callum Wilson was being scouted by a number of Premier League sides, it should come as no surprise that we are looking to bolster their attack. After all, if Eddie Howe hopes to continue our surge up the table in the seasons ahead, we need to offer Alexander Isak some much needed rest from being the club’s sole go-to striker, with Wilson often unavailable to fill that role.

European football may also be a non-negotiable for Newcastle if they want to stand a chance at the negotiating table, with some of Europe’s elite clubs in Juventus, Atalanta, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig also keeping a close eye on David’s transfer status.

🚨 Newcastle are one of the Premier League clubs in talks to sign Jonathan David as a free agent.

His Lille contract runs out next summer.

(Source: @GraemeBailey) pic.twitter.com/PLPySKX5pW

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 25, 2024

Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/09/26/newcastle-in-talks-over-pre-contract-agreement-as-mitchell-eyes-striker-report/

Author : Jaspar Shepherdson

Publish date : 2024-09-26 06:00:15

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