Tino Asprilla backs £12.6m Newcastle United summer transfer signing to happen

Newcastle United icon Tino Asprilla believes the potential arrival of Luis Muriel would be a good signing for Eddie Howe’s side.

Reports from Italy over the last few days have suggested the Magpies are considering a move for the Colombian international.

Tuttosport claims Atalanta are willing to sell the 31 -year-old for £12.6million and United view him as a low-cost alternative to other strikers they have enquired about.

Indeed, Howe got to see Muriel first hand when he featured in the Serie A side’s 1-0 defeat at St James’ Park a few weeks ago.

“He is a player with an important reputation in Europe, who has done things in the teams where he has been,” Asprilla, who made 62 appearances for Newcastle between 1996 and 1998, told Blu Radio’s Blog Deportivo.

“It is possible that he could come to Newcastle, it would be good, it would be nice.

“Muriel is a quick player, the most important thing is that he has good pace and definition. He is a boy who has very good ball control. So he could adapt to English football.

“It’s not easy because in England the games have too much intensity, but he has the conditions to make it. If he gets physically fit, I think he could succeed in England.”

Muriel is said to be attracting interest from elsewhere, including Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan, after entering the final year of his contract.

Newcastle continue their search for attacking reinforcements after bolstering their backline with the arrivals of Matt Targett, Nick Pope and Sven Botman.