Newcastle United eye Champions League striker bid as defender deal close

FC Porto's Malian forward Moussa Marega gestures during the Portuguese League football match FC Porto against Moreirense FC at the Dragao stadium in Porto on July 20, 2020. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Portuguese publication A Bola, the Magpies ‘interest in the acquisition’ of Porto frontman Marega ‘is indeed true’.

The report states United are likely to bid higher than £13 million for the 29-year-old, who has just one year left on his current deal.

Steve Bruce is extremely light on options in the forward areas with just Andy Carroll fit and available for selection, just two weeks out from the start of the Premier League season.

Dwight Gayle is reportedly out for three months with a knee injury suffered in United’s last pre-season outing against Crewe, while Yoshinori Muto has been told to find a club elsewhere and Joelinton is absent, thought to be because of quarantine regulations.

Meanwhile, according to the Athletic, Newcastle are ‘winning the race’ to sign Arsenal defender Rob Holding on loan.

The 24-year-old is unlikely to have a future at the Emirates this season with at least six defenders ahead of him the pecking order, when all fit and available.

The report states, though, any deal is unlikely to have an option of purchase inserted in it for the former Bolton Wanderers man.

Holding has been at Arsenal for four years but has made just 39 Premier League appearances since signing. An anterior cruciate ligament injury, suffered in December 2018, has limited the central defender to just 18 top flight shows in the last two seasons.