Newcastle United ‘make checks’ on Liverpool & Everton transfer target amid £17m rejected bid

Newcastle United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been given a stern warning over their interest in one player that has already shone in this season’s Champions League.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon has reported both the Magpies and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur have taken recent ‘checks’ on Belgium international Johan Bakayoko after he impressed during his first full season in the senior setup at Eredivise club PSV Eindhoven.

After scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions last season, Bakayoko has taken his form into the new campaign and provided two assists in his side’s 2-2 draw in a Champions League play-off round tie with Scottish giants Rangers.

The 20-year-old has already been the subject of an unsuccessful £17million offer from Burnley early this summer and the Clarets interest is believed to remain alive despite PSV’s insistance they will not consider offers below their valuation of over £30million.

Liverpool and Everton have also been credited with an interest in Bakayoko in recent weeks but one former Dutch international has already given his take on the speculation linking the PSV star with a move to the Premier League as ‘total madness’.

Former Ajax and PSV striker Wim Kieft told Voetbal Primeur: “I was also so surprised by the news that Liverpool were interested in Bakayoko. AjThat’s madness, isn’t it? I really think that’s total madness. I don’t believe all those reports. His agents are just putting such reports into the world.”

It is not the first time Kieft has scoffed at reported interest in Bakayoko after he delivered a withering assessment of the winger as he suggested the youngster ‘lacks guts’ and requires ‘a little more initiative’ in his game before stepping into the Premier League.

Speaking to Voetbalzone last week, he said: “Why (move for Bakayoko)? Because you think you can pick him up now for €20m or €25m, and otherwise pay €60m in two years. Bakayoko has qualities as a right winger, but something different is asked in the Premier League than against FC Utrecht or Sturm Graz. In the encounter with the Austrians in Eindhoven, he continuously overtook his direct opponent.

“In one match he passed more often than in all his matches for PSV put together. Sturm Graz had not adjusted sufficiently to Bakayoko. He plays more safe when teams adapt to him. He often lacks guts, while he possesses the qualities to go inside and out. The latter is ideal for Luuk de Jong. A little more initiative wouldn’t hurt. But Liverpool at this stage of his career…”