Newcastle United now know how much they must pay to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo from PSG this summer, but they face competition from Leeds United.
Reports in France have tentatively linked the Magpies with the striker all summer, who has been described as a ‘complete player‘.
He was first rumoured while the club were looking to complete a deal for Hugo Ekitike, so talk of another young forward from Ligue 1 seemed strange.
But now the deal to sign Ekitike is off, and Kalimuendo feels like a viable alternative. However, there has been no increase in speculation as of late, with Armando Broja looking like the Magpies’ new number one striker target.
Newcastle face serious competition for Broja and may struggle to sign him, so news of PSG’s Kalimuendo asking price may intrigue the Toon decision makers.
PSG want £21million for Arnaud Kalimuendo
According to L’Equipe, PSG will sell the 20-year-old for a fee of £21million. That’s less than what Ekitike was going to cost. Newcastle had agreed a fee of £26million with his club Reims.
But while the Magpies were unchallenged for Ekitike, with only a dodgy agent preventing a deal, we would need to beat off another Premier League side for Kalimuendo.
Leeds are also interested in the striker, and have seen a bid rejected. They reportedly offered £17million, but their approach was rebuffed by PSG. But they are only £4million shy of their asking price, which isn’t too big a gap.
Whether or not they improve their bid remains to be seen, and we still don’t know how serious Newcastle are about Kalimuendo.
He would be a great addition to Howe’s squad, and fits the bill of what we want in a striker. He can play anywhere across the front, and would be a solid backup to Callum Wilson. Kalimuendo could learn from Newcastle’s number nine, who is 10 years his senior.
With a decent goal record for his age in France (12 Ligue 1 goals last season) and scope to get better, it’s no surprise Newcastle have been mentioned as possible suitors for Kalimuendo.
However, a move to Leeds feels most likely at the minute unless Newcastle put £21million on the table.
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