Newcastle United could be looking at Karl Toko Ekambi as Eddie Howe wants to bring a prolific forward in the summer window.
According to Calciomercato, Newcastle United are set to continue their chase for a prolific frontman, with Olympique Lyon’s Karl Toko Ekambi emerging as a potential target. The 29-year-old could be considered as a quality backup option for next season.
Newcastle United had a good January transfer window, during which they signed several important players. The main objective for Eddie Howe was to bring in reinforcements in key areas of the pitch to aid their relegation fight.
While they were primarily looking at defenders and a midfielder, the late December injury to Callum Wilson forced them to look for a new forward as well. They managed to sign Chris Wood from Burnley. Despite the acquisition of the former Burnley hitman, they were still looking for another centre-forward until deadline day.
Newcastle United failed with a deadline day approach for Eddie Nketiah, as Arsenal refused to sell their striker despite him having just six months left on his deal. They might even go for the Gunners star on a Bosman deal in the summer, although the Magpies will focus their efforts on bringing in a more prolific forward as cover for Wilson in the next window.
The Tyneside outfit have set their sights on various forwards across European leagues. Napoli’s Victor Oshimen is high on their list, although the Nigerian would be a costly acquisition. They have also been mentioned as a potential suitor for Darwin Nunez, for whom there was tremendous interest from the Premier League.
If those first-choice targets become difficult to acquire, Newcastle are already keeping tabs on alternatives, with Lyon’s Karl Toko Ekambi emerging as a potential Plan B.
The 29-year-old has hit the ground running this term, scoring 11 goals across all competitions, which has made him a valuable player for Lyon. He may not be an automatic starter for Les Gones, but he still has plenty to offer with his versatile nature and eye for a goal.
However, Newcastle could make a move to bring him to the Premier League. He could be seen as an option to provide cover and compete with whoever the Magpies decide to play as a primary striker. In addition, the Cameroonian international would add some depth to the wide areas as well.
It remains to be seen how much Lyon would demand for the striker if Newcastle formalise their interest in Karl Toko Ekambi in the summer. Ekambi will have two years left on his deal after this season, allowing the French giants to demand a sizable fee from his suitors.
