Newcastle United have reportedly entered the race to sign Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma, who is also on the radars of Everton and West Ham.
According to Calciomercato, Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Villarreal’s Dutch attacker Arnaut Danjuma in the summer transfer window. Danjuma is also a target for fellow English top-flight sides Everton and West Ham United.
Formerly of PSV Eindhoven and NEC Nijmegen, Danjuma already has the experience of playing in England, having signed for Bournemouth in 2019. He endured multiple injury setbacks and largely struggled in his maiden campaign as the Cherries got relegated from the Premier League in 2019/20.
However, the 25-year-old thrived in the next season as he scored 15 goals in 33 Championship matches. With the Cherries unable to gain promotion to the top flight, Danjuma subsequently signed for reigning Europa League winners Villarreal CF for a club-record €23.5 million last summer, which raised a few eyebrows in Spanish football.
Nevertheless, that figure now looks to be a bargain, with the Dutch attacker enjoying a fine start to his career with the Yellow Submarine. He has scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 22 competitive appearances for the Spanish outfit.
Four of his 12 goals have come in the UEFA Champions League, with the forward one of the major driving forces behind Villarreal’s successful run to the knockout stages, where they are going toe-to-toe against European heavyweights Juventus, having held the Italian club to 1-1 draw in the first leg.
The Dutch forward’s stellar displays in Spain have not gone unnoticed either, with multiple English clubs keen on bringing him back to the Premier League. Everton and West Ham have emerged as potential suitors for the ex-Bournemouth starlet’s signature. But it appears the two English clubs could face stiff competition from cash-rich Newcastle.
Despite spending a fortune in the transfer window last month, the Magpies are already planning to spend big again in the summer. Based on their recent links to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Jeremy Doku, it seems they will attempt to sign another explosive winger to complement Allan Saint-Maximin.
To that end, Danjuma would clearly be a fantastic signing for Newcastle. He has a lethal combination of pace, power, dribbling ability and most importantly, productivity. Toon boss Eddie Howe is already familiar with Danjuma’s talents from his time at Bournemouth, which could give them an edge over other clubs.
Everton, meanwhile, are looking to bolster their uninspiring attack and have identified Danjuma to solve their creative issues in the final third. However, having already tasted Champions League football, the Dutchman is unlikely to take a step back unless it is for an exceptional project.
West Ham, meanwhile, have held an interest in Danjuma for a while. With Andriy Yarmolenko out of contract at the end of the season and Jarrod Bowen linked with a summer move to Liverpool, the Hammers are looking to make a push for the Netherlands international, who is versatile enough to provide cover for striker Michail Antonio if needed.
The 25-year-old is under a long-term contract with Villarreal until 2026 and is protected by a release clause that stands in the region of €75 million.
