By David Woods

15th Jun, 2018 | 8:12am

Newcastle make contact over £18m-rated World Cup-winning attacker - report

Newcastle are one of five clubs who are interested in a summer move for German attacker Mario Gotze, according to a report.

The Mirror claims that Newcastle have made an enquiry for the 26-year-old who scored the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final after his £33million move to Bayern Munich.

However, Gotze has struggled to maintain his form since then and was sold back to Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for £20million.

He scored just two goals last season in 32 games and was left out of the Germany squad for the World Cup this summer.

Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Leicester are also credited with an interest for the player who would cost around £18million.

Football Insider verdict:

Gotze was on top of the world in 2014 and was one of the most sought-after players in the world. Injury and illness have contributed to his loss of form but missing out on the World Cup this summer would have been a bitter blow. Gotze now wants to come to the Premier League to resurrect his career and at £18million, Newcastle would be getting a serious bargain if Benitez could help him rediscover his devastating form. It’s a big gamble, but the calibre of teams after him show that he should be able to secure a Premier League move this summer, with his career at Dortmund seemingly on the rocks. His career stats are impressive for an attacking midfielder – 36 goals and 24 assists in 114 games for Bayern Munich and 35 goals and 53 assists in 164 games for Dortmund. He cost Bayern £33million in 2013 and at just over half of that, he’s surely worth a shot? 

In the latest Newcastle United transfer news, they are currently monitoring an African defensive powerhouse.

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