Newcastle handed stark reality check over £70m striker with star tipped to join London club

Newcastle have been warned they face a losing battle if they pursue a deal to sign Darwin Nunez with the striker likely to sign for a London club instead.

The Magpies were the most-active team of the January transfer window, bringing in five new players. That quintet has made a rapid difference though to the mood at St James’ Park with Newcastle upwardly mobile under Eddie Howe. Indeed, an eight-match unbeaten run saw Newcastle soar up the table. That said, their progress was stunted with successive defeats just before the international break.

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Nonetheless, Newcastle are perhaps only a couple of wins away from guaranteeing Premier League safety. And with that, planning for the summer window can get underway wholeheartedly.

According to widespread reports, Newcastle will likely spend anywhere between £100m – £150m this summer. Howe is looking for extra quality all over the pitch – and it seems his first deal will be for a Roma midfielder.

Elsewhere, Newcastle are also seeking a stronger presence in the heart of defence. But it is in attack where they are hoping to make the biggest splash, with a new striker top of their wishlist.

As such, a number of big-name attackers are reportedly on the Newcastle United radar.

Indeed, the likes of Victor Osimhen and Charles De Ketelaere are both reportedly on their wishlist.

However, they’re