Keith Downie: "Tremendous" £30m predator "on the list" for NUFC, Howe needs him badly - opinion

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United‘s interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney heading into the summer transfer window.

Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has revealed that the Bees attacker may be on the Tyneside club’s list of potential targets ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Speaking to Football FanCast, when asked about Toney and Hugo Ekitike being targeted by the Magpies, the journalist replied: “I could see why Eddie Howe would like him as a player. You know, I can see he can lead that line by himself with two wingers either side.

“They’re all very different sorts of players that you mentioned there. I would imagine Tony and Ekitike are both on the list as options. I would imagine the list is pretty long.”

Newcastle must get a deal over the line for the £30m-valued striker this summer, as Toon boss Eddie Howe needs him badly at St James’ Park.

Toney is the complete centre-forward in terms of his skill set and is the ideal player to lead the Magpies’ line on his own in the 4-3-3 formation that the head coach has been deploying this season. The 26-year-old can score goals and set them up for his team-mates, in addition to holding up the ball and linking the play, as he has proven throughout the campaign with Brentford.

Peterborough chief Barry Fry once dubbed him “tremendous”, and that is exactly what Toney has been this year. In the Premier League this season, he has produced 12 goals and five assists in 30 starts, also missing five ‘big chances’ for Thomas Frank’s side.

Whilst this proves that he can score and create at the top end of the pitch, the 26-year-old has also shown that he can be a physical outlet up front. He has won 4.5 aerial battles per game and won 52% of his duels in total, being more