PIF eyeing NUFC swoop for "highly-rated" £30m phenomenon, he can be Howe's "Benzema" - opinion

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United and their interest in Amine Gouiri heading into the summer transfer window…

The i Paper’s Mark Douglas has confirmed that PIF are eyeing up a swoop for the Nice attacker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, tweeting: “#nufc scout Amine Gouiri, highly-rated Nice striker.”

Douglas’ accompanying article states that the Tyneside club are in the market for a centre-forward this summer, with the 22-year-old a player they are scouting.

The Frenchman is reportedly valued at £30m by the Ligue 1 outfit, although it remains to be seen how much the Premier League side are willing to pay for his services.

Journalist Evan Barlett dubbed Gouiri the “new Benzema”, and the comparison is an easy one to make. Both strikers came through the ranks at the Lyon academy and Gouiri appears to be on his way to reaching the top level, where Benzema has been showcasing his quality for many years.

In the current Real Madrid maestro’s last Ligue 1 season for Lyon in 2008/09, he scored 17 goals and provided four assists in 36 games.

Meanwhile, Gouiri was directly involved in 19 league goals last term and has caught the eye again in 2021/22 as he has proven that he can score and set up goals on a regular basis – as shown in the graphic below, with stats via SofaScore.

The 22-year-old phenomenon has been in fine form and is showing that he has the potential to become an elite player, just like his fellow countryman.

Benzema managed a direct goal contribution roughly every 132 minutes in his last Ligue 1 campaign. Gouiri has managed one every 149 minutes for Nice this term, which suggests that there is not a great deal of difference between their productivity in those respective seasons in the French top flight.