Newcastle United make 'surprise checks' on striker ahead of January transfer window

The Sun report that the club has made “surprise checks” on Aberdeen’s Sam Cosgrove ahead of the January transfer window.

Beverley-born Cosgrove, signed from Carlisle United two years ago, rejected a £2million move to French club Guingamp in the summer.

Speaking at the time the 24-year-old said: “When you hear you have the opportunity to move abroad for a multi-million pound fee, it's naturally attractive, and you want to hear it out and see what it is. But, after quite a bit of deliberation and speaking to people close to me, it turns out it just wasn't the right time and right place for me to move on.”

United head coach Steve Bruce – who signed goalkeeper Mark Gillespie following his release from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell in the summer – is looking to strengthen his squad in the New Year.