Newcastle are reportedly interested in Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto.
Newcastle United are likely to be on the lookout for a new striker this summer, especially if Swansea City can complete a surprise move to sign Toon striker Dwight Gayle this summer.
The Sun claims that his Swansea side are eyeing a move for 27-year-old Gayle this summer, despite scoring only five goals in 32 league appearances for Rafa Benitez’s side.
Aleksander Mitrovic is set to leave the club this summer with Newcastle reportedly willing to listen to offers for the powerful Serbian forward, while Spanish summer signing Joselu has been way below par.
Islam Slimani surely has not earned a permanent move and a striker is likely to be at the top of Rafa Benitez’s agenda. The loss of former Crystal Palace striker Gayle to Swansea would only heighten that necessity.
It would make a deal to sign Mainz hotshot Yoshinori Muto all the more important, after German magazine Kicker claimed the Toon are interested in landing the 25-year-old Japan international.
Muto has scored at a decent rate of nine goals in 28 games this season, but it must be remembered that Mainz’s number nine has been in a side flirting with relegation. With chances at a premium, Mainz have only scored 35 league goals this term.
The former FC Tokyo star has a bit of everything – he has a decent amount of pace, but is also able to hold the ball up. Muto, like Gayle, has an excellent leap and is deceptively good in the air despite his 5ft 9in frame.
Landing Muto, then, would become paramount as he is the perfect replacement for Gayle, who could indeed make a desperate situation in the final third all the more worse by joining Swansea.
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