Newcastle set to announce imminent striker transfer – report

By Will Butcher

Promoted La Liga side Osasuna are close to signing Newcastle striker Emmanuel Riviere, according to a report.

The 26-year-old has been expected to leave Newcastle this summer, after falling down the pecking order behind the likes of Dwight Gayle, Aleksander Mitrovic and Adam Armstrong.

Regional Spanish newspaper Diario De Navarra claim that the former Monaco striker is now just hours away from ending his Newcastle nightmare, by signing for Enrique Martin's side.

French magazine France Football had claimed earlier in the window that Olympiakos, Rennes and Hamburg were all keen on the former Saint Etienne striker.

The former France Under-21 international moved to Tyneside for around £6million last summer, after impressing in the red and white of Ligue 1 giants Monaco.

Riviere has failed to deliver in England, scoring just three goals in 31 Newcastle appearances – and just one in the Premier League.

He has less than a year remaining on his contract and is deemed surplus to requirements. He is one of many French stars to have failed on Tyneside, joining Henri Saivet, Florian Thauvin and Remy Cabella who have all left this summer.

Riviere’s reputation in France is good after spells at Toulouse, Saint Etienne and Monaco.

The forward was a mainstay for all three sides and scored 36 goals with 16 assists in 147 Ligue 1 appearances.

In other Newcastle transfer news, this Serie A left-back has signed for the Magpies despite interest from Premier League side West Ham.