Newcastle United learn Brazilian striker target's asking price as former Leeds United hero becomes ‘available’

Newcastle United are hoping to bolster their squad with further attacking options, according to reports.

The Magpies currently have two strikers at their disposal in Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson. The pair have both been excellent in front of goal during their time on Tyneside, but the duo have also struggled with injury issues.

Eddie Howe’s shortage in the striker department has forced him to often deploy a wide player in the centre forward role, which has in turn forced the manager to move Joelinton onto the wing to cover for the likes of Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy who have recently been injured. The Magpies manager is determined to fill the gaps in his squad in both areas, but given the increased expectation of his team after qualification for the Champions League he has admitted previously that it is important to focus on quality recruitment rather than quantity.

With that in mind Newcastle World rounds up two of the biggest transfer stories that have emerged this week including a move for a Brazilian prodigy and a former Leeds hero who is renowned for getting fans off their seats.

Newcastle United learn asking price for young Brazilian attacker

Marcos Leonardo is one of the most highly coveted young strikers in Brazilian football and he has already racked up over 126 first team appearances for Santos just months after celebrating his 20th birthday.

Leonardo is the latest prodigy to emerge from the Santos academy which has previously seen Neymar and Pele graduate. He boasts an impressive record of 35 goals from 96 league appearances and is tipped to one day be a star for the national team with him already scoring 15 goals in 13 appearances at U20 level.

The 5ft9 forward has been on Newcastle’s radar for a number of months and reports from Goal state that he is likely to be sold in the summer so that he can pursue his dream of playing in Europe.

The striker's talents at such a young age have earned him interest from Real Madrid, Roma and Newcastle, but given the Magpies striker crisis with injuries, the North East may be the best place for him to earn first team exposure.

Goal claims that he will be made available for a fee of around £17m with Santos wanting a fair sell-on fee as well. This price could be driven up, however, if multiple clubs were to put forward an interest. 

Former Leeds United hero becomes available just 18 months after Elland Road exit

In recent times, there are few players who have entertained the Leeds United faithful more than Raphinha, who eventually made the move to Barcelona in the summer of 2022.

The Brazilian winger is blessed with excellent flair, creativity and eye for goal and this was showcased in the Premier League as he registered 17 goals and 12 assists across 65 matches.

The 20-time international joined Barcelona for a fee of around £55m and claims he was drawn to Nou Camp to follow in the footsteps of his hero Ronaldinho.

Raphinha helped the Catalan giants to a league and cup double in his first season - contributing seven goals and assists in 36 appearances. 

Despite this steady form, it is reported by Football Insider that the player will now be available for a figure of £40-£50m in January as the club continue to deal with financial difficulties.

The winger has proven that he is capable of shining in the Premier League and is believed to be a target for the Magpies. However, other English heavyweights such as Liverpool and Tottenham are also believed to be monitoring the situation closely.