Newcastle favourites to beat two European giants to sign ‘fantastic’ Callum Wilson replacement in January

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Newcastle United could be in the market for a new striker in January and there is one target who is emerging as a favourite.

After a disappointing summer window, there is lots to do over the January window for Newcastle United and sporting director Paul Mitchell.

Mitchell is set to be handed a £70m budget over January and he is under pressure to get deals over the line to reinforce Eddie Howe’s squad.

Newcastle missed out on a centre-back after walking away from talks for Marc Guehi, and they also failed to land a right-sided winger after a £50m bid for Anthony Elanga was rejected on deadline day.

The Magpies did strengthen up front with a £10m deal for Sheffield United forward William Osula, while Callum Wilson stayed put on Tyneside despite being linked with a move away.

Newcastle United linked to Jonathan David

Despite the signing of Osula, there is still a feeling that Newcastle will need to invest in a new forward to become the long-term replacement for Wilson, who signed for Newcastle in a £20m deal in 2020.

Newcastle will allow Wilson to leave in January if they can source a replacement, and it seems Lille striker Jonathan David could be just that.

Newcastle officials have already opened talks with David after he decided that he would be leaving Lille at the end of the season.

The striker, who has been hailed as “fantastic”, is set to become a free agent in the summer once his contract expires, but that doesn’t mean teams can’t bid for him in January to try and get a deal over the line quickly.

David would have cost Newcastle £40m if they chose to sign him in the summer, but his value will have plummetted given he is in the final year of his deal.

Newcastle United lead three-way battle for Jonathan David

Newcastle are not the only team showing an interest in the 24-year-old Canada international.

In fact, the Magpies are going to have to fend off interest from two European giants in order to land David.

READ MORE: What Newcastle have now accepted about Callum Wilson

According to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, Inter Milan and Juventus have been closely following David’s development and are showing an interest in a deal.

However, the report adds that Newcastle are currently favourites to sign David as they are “ready to pay the most” in January.

A new striker is certainly not at the top of Newcastle’s priority list, but if the opportunity arises to replace Wilson with David then the club could pounce and make it happen.