It is going to be really difficult for Newcastle United to sign the attacker they want this summer, and snapping up one of their targets might now be even tougher.
The Magpies have got their eye on some top level players, as Eddie Howe aims to bring in a new right winger who can help take the club to the next level.
Michael Olise would certainly do that, and Newcastle did make a move. However, he is on his way to Bayern Munich.
Nico Williams would also do that, but a transfer to St James’ Park seems extremely unlikely as he eyes a switch from Athletic Bilbao to Barcelona.
Even a player from the Championship could be difficult to sign, as Newcastle ponder whether or not to make a move for Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville.
Newcastle suffer Crysencio Summerville blow
The ‘exceptional‘ Dutchman is on Newcastle’s radar after a sensational season in the second tier with Leeds. He was named the Championship Player of the Season, but was unable to help them secure promotion back to the Premier League.
That created situation in which Leeds needed to raise funds by selling a star player, which suggested that he might be one of Newcastle’s more attainable targets.
However, the situation has changed after Leeds sold Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for £35million.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are no longer under pressure to sell after allowing Gray to join Spurs.
They report that Leeds are not actively looking to sell a player like Summerville anymore, and will only let him go if a decent offer comes in and he suggests that he would like to leave.
Leeds are no longer desperate to sell, which means Newcastle might have to break the bank if they are serious about signing Summerville, who is also attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
Newcastle United did look at Archie Gray
With Tottenham signing Gray for £35million, Ange Postecoglou’s side have inadvertently made it tougher for Newcastle to bring Summerville to St James’ Park.
Interestingly, they have also signed a player who Newcastle United officials were watching closely last season.
That is according to the Times, who have reported that Toon scouts regularly watched Gray at Elland Road last season.
And given how impressive the teenager is, they surely would have been keen to bring him to the North East.
However, it is Tottenham who have secured his signature, for a fee that probably explains why Newcastle were never in the mix. While Gray has a huge amount of potential, it would have been a shock to see the Magpies spend more than £30million on a midfielder when they do not need reinforcements in that position and have other priorities.
