The Telegraph reported on Monday that a move for the 22-year-old is waiting to be finalised as soon as the new manager is confirmed at St James’ Park.
The report from Germany admits that Joelinton is likely to move this summer, and goes on to say that Newcastle will offer €40 million, but that the Bundesliga side will want more.
Newcastle, who will be hoping to appease fans unhappy at the prospect of Steve Bruce becoming the successor to Rafa Benitez, must make some serious moves in the transfer market, having not signed a single player this off-season.
Joelinton would be a record-breaking buy for the Magpies, and one who would be welcomed by a majority of supporters, with concerns growing over the lack of strikers left at the club.
Newcastle are already playing catch-up and need deals quickly
The club is lagging far behind its Premier League rivals, and that will be laid bare for a national audience on Wednesday, when they open the Premier League Asia Trophy in China live on Sky Sports.
Fans around the country will see the same faces from last season, with juniors and reserves making up the numbers to replace those who have been sold or released.
It is a sorry state for a top flight football club, and failure to land Joelinton, who was said to be a nailed-on signing, could set the tone for a disastrous season ahead on Tyneside.
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