Newcastle United, and by extension their owners the Saudi Public Investment Fund, have sent a senior official to watch Nice forward Amine Gouiri, according to The Northern Notebook from iNews correspondent Mark Douglas.
The lowdown: Rising star
Having graduated from the academy at Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, Gouiri made the switch to Nice in 2020 for €7million (£5.9million) in July 2020 (Get French Football News).
Having been crowned the top goalscorer at the Under 17 European Championships 2016/17, since the move, the 22-year-old has amassed 45 direct goal contributions in 83 outings.
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Now it seems Newcastle could be eyeing a sensational swoop for one of the hottest properties in European football…
The latest: Magpies keen
As per Douglas’ latest instalment of the Northern Notebook, PIF have ‘dispatched a senior member of staff’ to watch Gouiri, dubbed ‘the new Karim Benzema’.
It’s claimed French sources have confirmed that Newcastle are ‘monitoring’ the 18-cap France Under 21 starlet.
The report also states that Real Madrid and Arsenal are also both interested in the £30million rated youngster, who has been called a ‘world class’ talent by Ligue 1 expert Adam White.
The verdict: Make it happen
So far this season, the French sensation has scored 12 times and provided nine assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, earning an impressive 7.05 Sofascore rating whilst completing 1.6 dribbles, 1.3 key passes and 2.0 shots per game on average.
Capable of playing across the frontline and possessing a close stylistic likeness to star names such as Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen, Juventus star Paulo Dybala and Barcelona’s Memphis Depay (FBref), Gouiri seems destined to keep illustrious company throughout his career and has already established a burgeoning reputation.
As Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and indeed the club in its new guise look to move onto the next phase of their development, signing a prodigious talent such as Gouiri for the mooted asking price would be a huge statement of intent.
In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ ace NUFC have now made contact over signing here!