Newcastle to rival Arsenal, Liverpool for £20m LaLiga star as Howe eyes replacement for forgotten man
Newcastle United are considering replacing Allan Saint-Maximin with Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze this summer, according to reports.
Several Premier League clubs have registered an interest in the 23-year-old. Therefore, the Magpies face competition for his signature.
Chukwueze is widely considered to be one of the best young attackers in LaLiga, so it will be interesting to see if Newcastle get their man.
The Tynesiders have had a tremendous season. They currently sit in third place in the Premier League table and look set to qualify for the Champions League.
As a result, Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth are expected to make several additions in the transfer window. Now, it seems they have made Chukwueze one of their key targets.
Indeed, as reported by TEAMtalk, Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham and Aston Villa all have Chukwueze on their radar.
This season, the Nigeria international has made 46 appearances across all competitions for Villarreal. In the process, he has scored 13 goals and made 11 assists.
A versatile player, Chukwueze can play as a winger on either flank, or a as a centre-forward. So, he could provide cover in multiple positions for Howe next season.
Chukwueze tipped to replace Saint-Maximin
According to Estadio Deportivo, Newcastle are strongly considering bringing in Chukwueze as a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin.
Indeed, they claim the Magpies ‘have a mind’ to replace the Frenchman with Chukwueze and are ‘ready’ to make an offer for the Villarreal star.
The French winger has been linked with a departure for some time, despite Howe being an admirer of his. For example, Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing Saint-Maximin.
The 26-year-old is believed to be ‘open’ to a departure, too. This is because he has seen his game time limited this season.
Overall, Saint-Maximin has made just 10 starts in the Premier League. This is significantly less than the previous campaign, when he made 31.
Now, Chukwueze could be available on a cut-price deal this summer. The Villarreal winger’s contract is set to expire in 2024, and he has no intention of signing an extension.
Therefore, Villarreal are tipped to offload him at the end of the season to ensure they don’t lose him on a free transfer.
Estadio Deportivo do not state Chukwueze’s price tag. However, Transfermarkt value the Nigerian at approximately £20m, so it’s likely Newcastle would have to match that fee to get a deal done.
The question, however, is whether or not they can beat the competition to his signature, with four other Premier League clubs in the race.
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