Newcastle United and Leeds United linked with surprise £17m move for Everton outcast

Newcastle United and Leeds United have been linked with an unlikely move for Everton forward Moise Kean.

The Italy international has endured an underwhelming spell on Merseyside and is currently midway through a two-year loan with Serie A giants Juventus.

After joining the Toffees in a £23.3million deal from Juve in August 2019, Kean made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.

His first goal came in a memorable 2-2 draw against Newcastle, a game famous for two late goals from Florian Lejeune as the Magpies claimed a dramatic late point.

It proved to be a rare high for Kean at Goodison Park and he agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan in the early stages of the 2020/21 season.

Despite scoring 17 goals in 41 appearances, Kean returned to Everton before securing a two-year loan at Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window last year.

Five goals in 32 appearances represented an underwhelming return from his first year back in Turin and French outlet Jeunes Footeux have now suggested Juve have opted to cut short his loan deal.

That has ‘alerted’ Newcastle and Leeds, who are both looking to strengthen their attacking ranks before the transfer window closes next month.

Juventus still have an option to make Kean’s move permanent and questions over his future remain with the report suggesting both Newcastle and Leeds ‘do not intend’ to pay more than £17million to secure his services.