Newcastle are ‘not giving up’ on long-term striker target after being rebuffed by Premier League rivals

Newcastle United are still considering making a fresh approach to Everton for Dominic Calvert-Lewin despite a failed attempt to sign him earlier in the summer.

Nufc Feed understands that the club’s hierarchy are open to the idea of selling experienced striker Callum Wilson as he enters the final year of his St James’ Park contract. The 32-year-olds age and recent injury record have reportedly convinced the owners that now is the time to cash in on Wilson, despite his exceptional record of 47 goals in 97 league games, which currently makes him the team’s second top scorer in the Premier League era behind Alan Shearer (148).

However, Eddie Howe is keen to keep Wilson in the squad for at least another season. The Magpies boss gave Wilson his first major opportunity to impress at the top level with Bournemouth and shares a strong personal bond with the forward who has played a massive role in his success as a manager both at the Vitality Stadium and at St James’ Park.

Howe also believes it will be very difficult to find a replacement for Wilson in the market as the England international is only believed to be valued at around £18-£20m.

GiveMeSport, however, does understand that Howe would be open to returning to the table to try and sign Calvert-Lewin if Wilson was to depart. Calvert-Lewin, like Wilson has experience at international level and has found the net four times in 11 caps for the Three Lions.

Newcastle tried to land DCL as part of a quasi-swap deal involving Yankuba Minteh as part of the PSR frenzy at the end of June, but Everton stood firm on their £40m valuation and the deal ultimately collapsed. West Ham were interested in making a move for Wilson but were also put off by his hefty price tag. As it stands, TalkSport claims Newcastle are the frontrunners to move for the 27-year-old, who has overall goal record of 57 in 214 top-flight matches.

Calvert-Lewin, like Wilson is in the final year of his contract at Goodison Park, leaving the Toffees at risk of losing one of their prized assets on a free transfer.  The Blues striker offers a different dimension to Wilson, due to his hold-up play and aerial ability, but has in recent times struggled with injuries - particularly between 2021 and 2023 where he played just 17 games in both seasons.

The Sheffield-born forward has shown signs of returning to fitness with an improved record of seven goals in 32 appearances last term, but still looks some way off the injury team, and is yet to reach the heights he showed with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm when he scored 16 times in 33 matches.

Calvert-Lewin is one of a number of names on Newcastle’s radar and another alternative target could prove to be Lille’s Jonathan David after a successful campaign with Canada in this summer’s Copa America.

David is regarded as one of Ligue 1’s most formidable forwards and is renowned for his excellent pace and ability to stretch defences. French journalist Jacque Talbot expects talks between the Magpies and Lille to take place but at this moment in time the process is moving very slowly.