Report: Emmanuel Riviere could leave Newcastle United in the “coming hours”

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Newcastle United fans could be set to finally say goodbye to Manu Riviere.

France Football has reported that Emmanuel Riviere could complete a move to Metz from Newcastle United today.

The French striker’s presence at the club has impeded Rafael Benitez’s efforts to bring in a better goalscorer.

But France Football claims that the 27-year-old, signed from Monaco in 2014, might officially be off Newcastle’s books in the “coming hours” as a return to Ligue 1 looks probable.

If and when he goes, the path should be clear for United boss Rafael Benitez to bring in the striker who he wants – and desperately needs, if results so far are anything to go by.

The St James’s Park club have lost both of their Premier League games, losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham on the first weekend, before going down 1-0 to fellow newly-promoted side Huddersfield Town on Sunday.

By virtue of the fact they’re yet to score a goal on their return to the top flight, it could be argued that Newcastle – who have signed Joselu from Stoke City – need another forward to compete with the Spaniard, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Riviere has scored one league goal in 23 appearances for the North-East side, and failed to score any in 15 games from his season-long to Spanish side Osasuna last season.