Newcastle prepare bid ‘in the coming weeks’ for £69m Bundesliga star; told they need £26m for Italian | OneFootball

Premier League side Newcastle United are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, according to reports.

The Magpies are looking to bring in more players before the transfer deadline despite already bringing in Sandro Tonali from AC Milan, Harvey Barnes from Leicester City and Yankuba Minteh from Odense BK.

Newcastle are looking to improve in attacking areas and German youngster Wirtz fits the bill with Spanish publication Fichajes claiming the Geordies have ‘set their sights’ on the 20-year-old.

Wirtz, who has also been linked with Premier League champions Manchester City, contributed one goal and six assists in 17 Bundesliga matches last season as his campaign was hit by a serious knee injury.

Eddie Howe has ‘long targeted’ Wirtz, who has eight senior caps for Germany, and Newcastle will now ‘convince’ the midfielder ‘to decide to leave the Bundesliga and try his luck in the Premier League’.

Leverkusen have set their ‘starting price’ at around €80m (£69m) if Newcastle want to do business this summer and that figure ‘would not pose any problem’ for the Premier League side.

Fichajes adds the the Newcastle owners are ready to ‘prepare’ an offer for Wirtz ‘in the coming weeks’ as they look to make ‘one of the most prominent signings’ of the transfer window.

Galatasaray winger Nicolo Zaniolo is also being heavily linked with a move to Tyneside with Turkish outlet Milliyet insisting that negotiations could continue until the final day of the transfer window as there is also interest from Juventus, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Italy international has a €35m release clause at the Super Lig giants but there is a feeling at another Turkish publication, Sabah, that Galatasaray could drop their demands but they won’t sell for less than €30m.

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer reckons the Magpies will find it difficult to repeat their success from last season unless they get another couple of quality players before the end of the transfer window.

Shearer told the Rest is Football Podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards: “Yeah, I’m confident again. It’s going to be very difficult for Newcastle to go again and finish in the top four.

“I know they have signed a quality young midfielder in Tonali. I think they will have another very good season.

“In terms of doing what they did last season I think it will be very difficult for them unless in the last 10 days of the transfer window, if they go and get another two big hitters.”