In talks: PIF plot NUFC swoop for "phenomenal" £80k-p/w maestro, ASM needs him badly - opinion

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United’s pursuit of Manchester United‘s Jesse Lingard ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies are one of four clubs in talks with the England international ahead of his contract expiring at the end of next month as PIF plot a swoop for the midfielder.

The report claims that Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and AC Milan are also in the mix for his signature, with two of those said to be in ‘advanced talks’.

Newcastle must get this deal over the line, as would provide a much-needed attacking boost to Eddie Howe’s squad heading into next season.

Saint-Maximin recently claimed that he would have 10-15 assists in the Premier League if he had team-mates who could finish the chances that he has been creating. The winger has just four assists in the top flight this season despite creating 1.5 chances per game and six ‘big chances’ in total.

Whilst these statistics may not prove that he would be on 15 assists with better finishers around him, his chance creation numbers suggest that he is not being rewarded in full for his efforts out wide.

This is why the attacker needs the club to sign Lingard, as the Englishman has proven that he is a clinical finisher in the Premier League. He has scored two goals from 0.77 Expected Goals for Manchester United this term and plundered a whopping nine goals from just 5.25 xG whilst on loan at West Ham in the top flight last season.

Over the course of his career in the Premier League, the midfielder has scored 29 goals from 28.29 XG. He has duly proven that he is capable of finishing chances consistently when he pops up in the box, and that he could benefit from Saint-Maximin’s creativity on the left if they were in the