Newcastle United are ready to break their transfer record this summer by spending up to £40million on Hoffenheim forward Joelinton, according to the Northern Echo.
The newspaper claims that the Magpies are prepared to sign the 22-year-old regardless of whether or not Sheikh Khaled completes his £350million takeover of the Tyneside club this summer.
It is understood that cashing in on £20million-rated Dwight Gayle could be the key to landing Joelinton.
Fulham, Norwich and Aston Villa are interested in Gayle and the Magpies could use the money from selling the striker to go towards signing Joelinton, who the club is already eyeing up as they kick on with their plans for next season despite the potential upheaval behind the scenes.
Good move for Newcastle?
Joelinton has had a decent season with Hoffenheim, scoring 11 goals and supplying nine assists in 35 appearances across all competitions for the Bundesliga club.
The 22-year-old seems like a younger, pacier version of Salomon Rondon, but there have to be doubts about how much the Magpies are willing to pay for him because £40million is a lot of money for a centre-forward that does not score that many goals.
Even last season when playing for Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga, he only scored eight goals in 31 total appearances.
Joelinton is young and will improve, but it seems like a massive risk to sign him when Rondon is available for just £16.5million.
This is Futbol rating 4/10
Likely to happen?
There is too much going on at Newcastle right now to be certain about who will be signed and who will be sold this summer.
It makes sense that the club is continuing to eye up potential signings ahead of next season regardless of who is manager and who is owner by the time August comes around.
However this interest in Joelinton does seem quite serious and he is someone who has been linked with the Magpies for a few months now.
This is Futbol rating 3/10