Newcastle: Exciting £12.7m star 'fits into transfer plans' at St James' Park

Newcastle United have a budget of £70 million to spend on a new ‘wide forward and a central striker’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Magpies have so far been frustrated in their attempts to bolster Eddie Howe’s attacking options this summer after failing to bring in both Hugo Ekitike and James Maddison.

Howe has been able to improve his defence with the acquisitions of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Matt Targett, and he recently admitted that reinforcements in the final third of the pitch are now his priority.

“We are still looking for one stroke two players who can make a difference for us,” said the 44-year-old in a recent interview with Sky Sports.

“We’ll never stop until the window’s shut to try and add to the group. It’s no secret that we’ve been looking at a couple of attacking players that can make a difference for us.”

Jones has previously informed GiveMeSport that he expects offers to go in for both Marseille striker Bamba Dieng and Lyon attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta imminently.

The Ligue 1 duo could be exciting back-ups to Ekitike and Maddison, providing the goal threat and creativity in attack that Howe is clearly desperate for before September’s deadline.

Jones has told GMS that Newcastle have a significant figure to spend on two forwards and that Dieng ‘would fit in’ with those plans.

He said: “I was told a couple of weeks ago that the overall budget, if they were to not do loans, and they were to spend on a wide forward and a central striker, would be £70 million.

“So, you’ve got to make sure that all of these plans fit in with that. I guess with Dieng part of the thinking will be that he would fit in.”

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano recently stated that Dieng ‘will leave’ Marseille soon and that