Bid made: PIF in negotiations for £83m "diamond", he'd be a huge coup for Newcastle - opinion

Newcastle United are expected to have an explosive transfer window this summer, with new owners committed to improving the club’s Premier League form, and now it is reported that they have wasted no time in making a bid for a new player this summer.

According to French news outlet Foot Mercato, Newcastle have made their first move by bidding around €60m (£50m) to sign hot prospect Darwin Nunez.

The North-East club are competing with a number of Premier League sides for the signature of the Benfica star, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool all also reportedly plotting moves for the 22-year-old.

Following their bid, if Newcastle United were able to secure the signing of the star striker over their competitors it would be a huge coup for the club going into next season.

The centre-forward – who is believed to be valued at £83m and has been hailed a “diamond” by Steve McManaman – has been drawing attention to himself this season, scoring 32 goals in all competitions – with 24 goals in 24 games in the league and six huge Champions League goals that guided Benfica to giant killings in the prestigious European competition.

Nunez scored two goals against Barcelona in the group stages, with Benfica taking four points from both games that ultimately led to the LaLiga giants falling into the Europa League, with the striker also bagging against Bayern Munich in the group.

The 22-year-old’s fourth goal in the competition knocked Ajax out in the second leg of their round of 16 clash, however, despite netting two impressive goals against Liverpool over the two legs in the quarter-finals, it wasn’t enough to progress the Portuguese side further – who crashed out of the Champions League at Anfield this week.

A goal-scorer of