Newcastle United set to reignite interest in Real Madrid star - with ex-Celtic man also under consideration

Newcastle United are set to revisit their interest in out-of-favour Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic - while Moussa Dembele remains a January transfer window target.

Injuries spark transfer rethink

Callum Wilson's calf injury, which looks likely to keep the frontman out until February, and a less serious calf issue for Allan Saint-Maximin, which will see the forward miss out a few weeks, has reshaped winter window thinking at United.

And while a striker was always on the agenda next month, that hunt has been brought into much sharper focus following injuries picked up by the key United duo against Manchester United on Monday evening.

NewcastleWorld understands one player the Magpies have again enquired about is Serbian Jovic.

Jovic has failed to make an impact at the Bernabeu since his €60 million move from Eintracht Frankfurt in June 2019.

The 24-year-old, formerly of Benfica, has been a bit-part player, seeing his path to the first-team blocked primarily by France international Karim Benzema.

Loaned back to Frankfurt last season, he scored four goals in 18 games in the Bundesliga. And while he has since returned to the first-team picture at Real this campaign, he remains very much second fiddle to veteran Benzema, having to be content with appearances off the bench under Carlo Ancelotti.

Spanish media reports suggest, the Serb is willing to stay and fight for his future at Madrid, however, the club may look to send him out, should the right opportunity become available.

And United's scouting team are long-term admirers of Jovic, who was drawn into a list of potential post-takeover targets, and watched extensively, by Steve Nickson's transfer working group as far back as the end of the 2019/2020 season.

Dembele bargain fee - but injury concerns

Another player who is high up on that shortlist - and is understood to be available - is Dembele.

The Lyon frontman fits the criteria United are looking for in the window, with youth on his side at 25, experience playing in England for Fulham, and a proven goalscoring record across a number of leagues across Europe.

The Ligue 1 outfit are looking to offload the player, who spent the back end of last season on loan at Atletico Madrid, in January, with a valuation around €15-20 million thought to be on his head.

The fee Newcastle United may look to strike could consider the striker’s injury history.

Meanwhile, as reported elsewhere, it is NewcastleWorld's understanding that a Newcastle move for Kieran Trippier is well advanced, while interest remains in Sven Botman and Lloyd Kelly.