With one eye on Champions League qualification and the other on the summer transfer window, Newcastle United have reportedly set their sights on signing a future star.
Where Newcastle stand in Champions League race
The second-half of the current campaign has so far been one to remember for Newcastle, who even managed to end their long wait for a trophy by picking up the Carabao Cup in March. Now vying to finish a successful season by qualifying for Champions League football for the second time in three seasons, Eddie Howe’s side have their fate firmly in their own grasp as they head into the final four games.
Liverpool (C)
82
34
Arsenal
67
34
Newcastle United
62
34
Manchester City
61
34
Chelsea
60
34
Nottingham Forest
60
33
Aston Villa
57
34
With the top five all qualifying for the Champions League, Newcastle currently have a two-point buffer on Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand to break back into the all important places. Even if Nuno Espirito Santo’s side win that game in hand, however, it would be Chelsea who drop out of the top five and not Newcastle, who would move down to fourth.
The importance of a place amongst Europe’s elite cannot be overstated either, especially for Newcastle. Those at St James’ Park have been forced to sit back and watch in the last two transfer windows, but Champions League qualification should mean that their spending can commence under their rich PIF ownership.
Romano: Newcastle "keen on signing" £70m "tank" with same agent as Gordon
They’ve wanted him for ages.
ByBarney Lane
Just who arrives if that is the case remains to be seen. Already, names such as Liam Delap and Ademola Lookman have been mentioned, but before the stars arrive it may well be a teenage sensation who emerges to commence Newcastle’s summer window.
Newcastle plotting move to sign James Wilson
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle now want to sign James Wilson from Hearts this summer after PIF stepped up their scouting mission in Scotland and the 18-year-old talent stood out. A player who already has a senior Scotland cap to his name, Wilson is certainly one to keep an eye on as Newcastle plot an impressive summer swoop.
At just 18 years old, the forward has already been making his mark in the Scottish Premiership too – scoring five goals in 20 games and even finding the back of the net once in the Europa Conference League. When given the chance, Wilson has simply enjoyed every moment of the spotlight.
Earning impressive praise as a result, former Hearts boss Neil Critchley told reporters when asked about Wilson’s Scotland debut: “It’s an unbelievable achievement. To be the youngest Scottish international player ever is an incredible achievement. It’s one him and his family should be extremely proud of.
“You could see the lift and the excitement it gave him. He’s come back here with a permanent smile on his face. We’ve actually allowed him into the senior dressing-room this week. Shanks [Lawrence Shankland] and Craigy [Craig Gordon] have let him in. I say that, it was more Goggsy the kit man who gave his blessing! So he’s in for the first time.”
