Newcastle were linked with a bid for Rennes’ Senegal international attacker Ismaila Sarr, who L’Equipe claim has already been the subject of a €30 million (£26.8m) bid from Watford, which was rejected.
The report adds that Newcastle have not yet tabled a bid, but are alleged to be on the verge of making one in excess of the rejected one.
It is hard to imagine a Mike Ashley owned Newcastle bidding that amount for a player, but fans will hope that he may consider it, in a bid to assure Rafa Benitez of his future intentions for the club.
Sarr is just 21-years-old, and scored 13 goals with a further 11 assists in 50 appearances for the Ligue 1 side last season, and can play on the left wing as well as through the middle.
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Pace is the one thing Newcastle have lacked up front
What Sarr could bring Newcastle is electrifying pace – something they were sadly lacking in the last campaign.
As great a season as Salomon Rondon had, I often found myself wondering just how many goals he would get if he had a yard or two more pace in his legs.
Of course, it is one of the only things a player cannot create, as they either have pace, or they do not.
But imagine having someone like Rondon flicking headers and holding the ball up for a pacy partner, like Sarr, to burst through on?
It would be a mouth-watering prospect, and why, as unlikely as it is to be true, fans should hope that he is the kind of player Newcastle are hoping to attract.