Newcastle United ‘in touch’ with £35m Brazilian striker as major contract decision looms

Newcastle United have made an approach to sign Fiorentina striker Arthur Cabral - according to reports in Brazil.

The 24-year-old frontman joined the Serie A club in a £13.6m deal last January after plundering his way to 65 goals in just 106 appearances for Swiss club FC Basel. The former Brazil Under-23 international has found the going tough in Italy and had initially struggled to make a serious impact during his time with La Viola.

After making his debut in a 3-0 home defeat against Lazio in February, Cabral scored his first goal for his new club in a 2-1 loss at Sassuolo just over three weeks later. That proved to be one of only two goals in his first 16 appearances for Fiorentina - but has shown signs of improvement during the first half of the current season.

After opening his account in a 4-3 defeat against Inter, the frontman has gone on to score four goals in his last eight appearances and Goal Brasil have now claimed Newcastle, Atletico Madrid and Udinese have all ‘got in touch’ with the player’s agent in recent days.

The report suggests the Magpies have dispatched scouts to watch Cabral in action in Serie A and revealed they would have to meet a release clause worth around £35m to sign the striker.

Deadline set for decision on Magpies star’s future

Newcastle United will reportedly make a decision on the future of goalkeeper Loris Karius by Monday.

The former Liverpool stopper joined the Magpies on a short-term contract earlier this season after Martin Dubravka joined Manchester United on loan and Karl Darlow suffered an injury.

However, Dubravka is now back in the frame at St James Park after he was recalled from his spell with the Red Devils and appeared in Saturday’s FA Cup third round defeat against Sheffield Wednesday.

That has placed doubt of Karius’ long-term prospects on Tyneside and Football Insider have claimed there is a deadline in his current contract meaning a decision must be made by early next week.