Newcastle United are reportedly plotting a £20 million January swoop for Stoke City striker Tyrese Campbell as Eddie Howe looks to capture his first signing.
According to The Sun, Newcastle United are considering a £20 million move for Stoke City attacker Tyrese Campbell as their first signing under the Saudi regime. The Magpies boss Eddie Howe is said to be monitoring the progress of the Stoke hotshot for a long while and is now keen to bring the former Manchester City youth product to St James’ Park.
Campbell, son of former Everton and Arsenal striker Kevin, progressed through the youth ranks at Manchester City’s academy but refused to sign a professional contract with the Citizens. Instead, he opted for a move then-Premier League club Stoke City where he saw a clearer pathway to first-team football. He has shown steady progression since joining the club as a 16-year-old teenage prodigy back in 2016.
He made his Premier League debut when he was 18, but it was not until in late 2019 – after a loan spell at League One outfit Shrewsbury – that he became a regular first-team player at Stoke under Michael O’Neill. Campbell has scored 17 goals and provided eleven assists from 33 Championship starts for Stoke since the 2019/20 season.
While Stoke’s drop to second-tier helped his development, a season-ending injury midway through the last season hampered his prospects of sealing a Premier League move with Everton. However, the 21-year-old has returned to action since October, making three starts and six substitute appearances, netting twice in his last four outings.
Newcastle’s new owners have great ambitions and are pushing to make high-profile signings like Ousmane Dembele and Dusan Vlahovic next month. However, with relegation a real possibility this season, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to attract that calibre of players. The smarter alternative could be using loans or recruiting top talents from the Championship, especially with Howe’s proven track record of unearthing gems from the lower divisions.
While Howe’s priority will most likely be on bolstering defence and midfield areas, the newly-appointed coach may also want to bring in quality competition for talismanic striker Callum Wilson, with backup option Dwight Gayle rumoured to be headed out on loan in January. Signing one of the most exciting Championship player in Campbell could be a shrewd piece of business from the Magpies.
Campbell is a hugely promising player with bundles of energy, blistering pace and physicality. Capable of playing through the middle or out wide, his explosiveness and quick feet make him a threat in 1v1 situations, while he is also a decent finisher. At 21 years old, the Englishman is far from a finished product, but he has the foundations to become a well-rounded Premier League striker and could be a good option in the longer run.
The former England youth international’s contract with the Potters’ runs until the summer of 2024, meaning they are in a strong position. The report claims that Eddie Howe & co are lining up a January bid of around £20 million, and while it remains to be seen if that would be enough to prise the player away from the Championship club, the price-tag might be viewed as a risk for an unproven player coming on the back off a serious knee injury.
