Noel Whelan says Newcastle have problem signing Nunez

Newcastle United aren’t short of strikers with Dwight Gayle, Callum Wilson and Chris Wood at their disposal, but Gayle has made just five Premier League appearances this season, Wilson has missed 26 league outings in two seasons due to injury and Wood has just one goal in 10 league games this campaign.

The Magpies are also 14th in the league for goals scored (32), so Eddie Howe is expected to pursue another striker when the summer transfer window opens. SL Benfica’s Darwin Nunez is one of many players on their radar, having scored 20 goals in 22 Liga Portugal games this season, but Noel Whelan believes Newcastle will struggling winning the race over Arsenal for his signature.

United have lucrative funds following their takeover by Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, but they can’t offer transfer targets anything other than a payrise. Newcastle are at the beginning of their project and may struggle to beat out sides who regularly play European football.

Whelan told Football Insider: “For Newcastle, all they can offer is more money. It’s a choice between playing in London and potentially the Champions League, in a far more cosmopolitan city – and playing in the northeast. That’s no disrespect, but Newcastle will have to pay that extra money. For a player who has been knocking in goals as Nunez has, he would be demanding Champions League football.”

Nunez joined Benfica on a five-year deal from UD Almeria and has gone on to make 77 appearances in all competitions, scoring 40 goals with 14 assists.

In other news, Gabriel Agbonlahor says Newcastle United could sign Calvert-Lewin by ‘doubling his money’