“I’ve heard” – Transfer expert shares inside update on "phenomenal" £54m-rated Newcastle target

Newcastle United wouldn’t be the ‘first-choice club’ of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen if he was to move to the Premier League, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Magpies have been linked with several strikers since becoming the richest football club in the world last year, but their hopes of signing Osimhen have suffered a potential blow.

According to Italian outlet Il Mattino (via Calcio Napoli), Newcastle are keen to prise the prolific hitman away from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the summer, although he’s not expected to come cheaply.

Osimhen – who is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt – cost Napoli a whopping €81.3m (£67m) in July 2020 following an outstanding season with Lille, and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis is believed to want to recoup that fee.

The Nigeria international has established himself as one of the most feared goalscorers in European football after registering 21 strikes and seven assists in 53 appearances for Napoli.

And Osimhen’s stock has risen even further during the current campaign after spearheading Gli Azzurri’s Serie A title charge by racking up 15 goal contributions in just 23 outings.

With just over three years remaining on his current contract, it remains to be seen if the 6 foot 1 dynamo is willing to depart Naples in the summer, but it’s set to be an intriguing few months ahead.

With Luciano Spalletti’s charges sitting just three points behind league leaders AC Milan in the Italian top-flight, Osimhen has a prime opportunity to collect his first piece of major silverware this season.

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And Jones has revealed that the star forward, who Cagliari manager Walter Mazzarri described as “phenomenal”,