Report: Newcastle given price for long-term top-flight striker target
Newcastle have been told that they will have to stump up at least £20million if they want to sign Feyenoord striker Nicolai Jorgensen, according to a report.
The Chronicle claims that after trying to sign Jorgensen in the summer, he remains a target as Rafa Benitez tries to land a proven top-flight hitman.
It is claimed that Newcastle will have to smash their 13-year-old transfer record to bring in a suitable striker – that's still the £16million they paid to bring Michael Owen to St James' Park from Real Madrid.
The Chronicle claims they offered that much for Jorgensen in January but were unwilling to go as high as the Dutch club's valuation – said to be £21.9million.
However, if they were hoping to get him on the cheap this summer, their hopes look to have been scuppered.
Football Insider verdict:
Jorgensen scored 13 goals in 34 games for the Dutch side last season and we're sure he would do a decent job in the Premier League. However, he's currently out in Russia with the Denmark squad and played his side's opening game against Peru in the World Cup. He didn't score but Denmark won and are now favourites to progress through to the knockout stages, giving him more opportunities to score and possibly increase his price. Benitez's big issue is that he wants a proven top-flight striker, but is working on a limited budget again this summer. Strikers cost money and he'll be hoping that Aleksandar Mitrovic can find his scoring boots and increase his valuation, with the Newcastle boss needing to sell to get the players he wants. It's a World Cup dilemma – Newcastle fans will be hoping Jorgensen blanks and Mitrovic scores, to keep the price tags on their side. Either way, Newcastle will have to spend at least £20million to bring in a quality striker – unless their scouting network uncovers a gem quickly.
In other Newcastle news, 'Just not good enough' – Newcastle fans slam Mitrovic after display v Costa Rica