Newcastle United’s summer rebuild has placed major focus on overhauling Eddie Howe’s forward line, with Anthony Gordon gone and the club still looking for attacking options heading into the thick of the transfer window.
According to the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones, Newcastle are now showing interest in Cologne winger Said El Mala and staying in touch with Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo after missing out on Liverpool-bound Victor Munoz.
Newcastle had agreed a fee for Munoz before Liverpool stepped
in and triggered his £34.6million release clause, leaving the Magpies looking bad, to say the least.
“Newcastle United are showing interest in Cologne winger Said El Mala and maintaining contact over Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo,” Jones reported.
Fernandez-Pardo remains on Newcastle’s radar and is currently playing for Belgium at the World Cup. The Lille forward can play as a striker or on either wing.
El Mala, meanwhile, could also come back into focus following the Munoz debacle. The 19-year-old scored 13 goals and added five assists last season for Cologne. Brighton previously tried to sign El Mala, while Brentford had a £43million offer accepted before the player’s representatives decided against the move.
According to Jones, Newcastle have also been offered Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegovic, but the Daily Mail reported that the Magpies are unlikely to pursue him as things stand.
