Report: Newcastle want to sign £60m-rated striker Pep Guardiola once called ‘exceptional’

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Newcastle United have been linked with a young striker once deemed “exceptional” by Pep Guardiola.

According to Bleacher Report, sources linked to the prospective new Magpies owners have deemed Lyon forward Moussa Dembele a “possible option” in the upcoming transfer window.

The 23-year-old has been in sensational form for the French club, claiming 22 goals and seven assists from 42 games in all competitions this season.

His overall tally for Lyon stands at 42 goals and 13 assists from 88 appearances, more than repaying the reported £20million fee the Ligue 1 club paid Celtic for his services in 2018.

Dembele thoroughly impressed at Parkhead too, with 51 goals and 18 assists from 94 games, and at Fulham, the club where he came through the ranks, with 19 goals and nine assists as a teenager.

The Frenchman has previously been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea (talkSPORT), with a £60million price tag mentioned.

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Aside from Dembele’s talents, his consistency stands out – he has been prolific everywhere he’s played and is only getting better with age.

In 2016, Guardiola was asked by the Daily Mail about Man City’s reported interest in Dembele at the time.

While he remained coy on the speculation, he said: “The quality (in Dembele) is there. He is an exceptional player.”

Bleacher Report claims that Newcastle will be aiming for players “in the bracket beneath Griezmann and co”, with Dembele a seemingly realistic option post-takeover.

However, Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has the reputation of being a tough negotiator and would prove a challenge for Newcastle’s new owners in terms of getting their man.