NUFC plot bid for £25m "unicorn" who deserves a "20-year contract", Howe will love it - opinion

Newcastle United are interested in signing Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi this summer, according to German football journalist Christian Falk.

According to Falk, Newcastle, as well as West Ham and Southampton, are interested in signing the 24-year-old this summer with the Nigerian having a release clause of €30m (£25m).

Awoniyi has scored 23 goals in 61 matches for the Bundesliga outfit, at a rate of once every 176 minutes, since making his loan move from Liverpool permanent last summer.

However, this term has been particularly prolific for the 24-year-old, netting 18 times and registering four assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.

The striker has been a serious contributor to the club from the capital side’s recent rise, with Union playing in the Europa Conference League this term and sat currently sixth in the Bundesliga, and could return to England this summer.

It’s no secret that a new striker will be high up the priority list ahead of the summer transfer window for Newcastle United with it being the first since PIF’s takeover of the North East club in October.

£25m January signing Chris Wood has found the back of the net just twice since joining from Burnley whilst Callum Wilson has been sidelined since December with hope that the Englishman will play again this term.

However, neither are long term options with both strikers aged 30.

Having failed to make it into the first-team picture at Liverpool, Awonyi will certainly be keen to make the move to a Premier League club to show English supporters what he’s capable of and potentially what the Reds missed out on.

Although, with Union Berlin on course for another season in Europe, West Ham may be the forward’s preference out of the aforementioned trio