Newcastle United are keeping tabs on Noa Lang as they consider bringing in the Dutch attacker to bolster their options in the final third.
According to The Athletic, Noa Lang has emerged on Newcastle United’s radars as Eddie Howe scours the market for wide attackers to add to his roster in the ongoing transfer window.
Newcastle United have already made important moves in this window after having made significant purchases in January. Their window began with the permanent signing of Matt Targett from Aston Villa, with the left-back spending the last six months of the season at St James Park. England international goalkeeper Nick Pope followed him, and the club secured key defensive target Sven Botman from Lille.
Those signings make it five defensive incomings since January, allowing Howe to focus on strengthening the attacking side of his team. The importance is placed on bringing in a new centre-forward and a wide attacker in this window.
Newcastle were closing in on Hugo Ekitike, but the move has fallen through after the Magpies ended their pursuit due to indecision on the player’s part, as he waited for offers from other clubs. While they remain in the market for a centre-forward, they are also looking at a few options to strengthen the wide areas, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby emerging as a target.
Newcastle held talks with Diaby’s camp but have deemed him costly following Leverkusen’s reported demands of £60 million. The Magpies are perceived as one of the wealthiest clubs in the world right now, but in reality, they are operating on a disciplined budget.
Hence, Howe is keen on a cost-effective option and has set his sights on Noa Lang. The Netherlands international has often seen his name linked with a switch to the Premier League. Arsenal and Leeds United have been credited with an interest in the 23-year-old before, while West Ham were also linked at one stage.
Lang is seen as one of Europe’s exciting young wide forwards and has excelled in his role with Club Brugge and the Dutch national side. However, after a good season under his belt, during which he scored nine and assisted 15 goals in 48 games, the winger could be on the move, with a transfer to a bigger club on the cards.
Club Brugge will demand a significant fee, although their asking price for Lang is expected to be significantly lower than Diaby’s. Nevertheless, Lang could be an exciting option for a progressive Newcastle United side harbouring ambitions to finish in the top-six next season.
Whether Newcastle are serious about their pursuit remains to be seen, but the Dutch international seems like a realistic target for the Magpies. However, as the window progresses, interest in Lang could increase significantly, which could pose problems for the Tynesiders in their pursuit of the former Ajax starlet.
