Newcastle: 'Special' 110-goal star would be a St James' Park upgrade

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe would ‘enhance’ and ‘improve’ his Magpies squad if he succeeds in tempting Brentford star Christian Eriksen to St James’ Park in the summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

Having spent lengthy spells of the campaign looking over their shoulder and fearing relegation to the Championship, the Tyneside giants can start preparing for another season of Premier League football after moving clear of the drop zone and into the top half of the standings.

According to the Northern Echo, Newcastle are set to move for Eriksen at the end of the season and Howe is eager to make the 30-year-old a flagship signing.

The report suggests the Magpies’ key decision-makers are growing increasingly hopeful of being able to beat off competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and West Ham United for the 111-cap Denmark international, who has scored 110 senior goals at club level.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe will reportedly be handed a summer budget of less than £90million, but attempting to lure Eriksen to Tyneside would not have an impact on that figure.

That is because Eriksen only signed a contract lasting until the end of the season when he joined Brentford on deadline day of the January transfer window, meaning he is set to become a free agent in the summer, as things stand.

However, the Bees are attempting to tie the playmaker down to a fresh deal and believe they are in a strong position to come to an agreement.

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Downie is unsure as to whether Eriksen is a star Newcastle are actively pursuing ahead of the transfer window’s reopening.

Despite that, the Sky Sports reporter feels the Dane would offer