Report: Newcastle now interested in signing £20m French striker, 4 in 10 games

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The Mail claim that Newcastle are interested in signing Lyon striker Moussa Dembele ahead of the January window. The Frenchman is about to enter the last 18 months of his contract at the Groupama Stadium.

Newcastle are expected to make a number of big moves in January, as the club’s new owners look to wield their cash. Mike Ashley’s control of the club has left Newcastle with plenty of room, regarding Financial Fairplay.

Dembele, 25, is the latest name to be linked with Newcastle. He is currently at Lyon, having joined the club in the summer of 2018 from Celtic for a fee of £20million (Mail) – after 51 goals in 94 games for the Scottish side.

His form has continued at Lyon, netting 49 in 120 – as well as 14 assists. That is, despite a loan spell at Atletico Madrid during the second half of last season, failing to score for Diego Simeone’s side in seven games.

Dembele to Newcastle: Do they really need Lyon striker?

The report simply states that the new owners are looking at the ex-Fulham man ahead of January. But is a striker really the position they need to target? Callum Wilson is by far the club’s best striker.

Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton are two of the better performers under Eddie Howe so far, and have been used up top. Newcastle’s main priorities will be a couple of centre-backs, a right-back and a midfielder.

While Dembele would be a big-name signing, one that would excite fans, surely it would be better for the club to focus on improving defensively first. Brendan Rodgers once told the Record in 2018 that Dembele is “so powerful”.