Newcastle United are keen to bring Austria international Raphael Holzhauser to the Premier League from Belgian outfit Beerschot, according to Jeunes Footeaux.
The Magpies haven’t had a goalscoring midfielder worthy of the name since Gini Wijnaldum’s brief stay on Tyneside. With that in mind, the prospect of Holzhauser arriving in January is certain to give Newcastle fans a rare shot of excitement.
Right now, there aren’t many midfielders with a better goalscoring record in Europe than a man whose fine form earned him a first Austria cap in October.
Holzhauser has hit double figures before, during his spell at Austria Vienna, but looks certain to better his career-best tally of 13 in 2020/21.
The late-blooming 27-year-old has already hit the target nine times in 12 matches. A further eight assists show there’s more to Holzhauser’s game than putting the ball in the back of the net.
Jeunes Footeaux reports Newcastle will face competition from an ambitious Hertha Berlin outfit for his signature.
Hertha were taken over by wealthy US investors during the 2019/20 campaign. Remarkably, every one of their seven most expensive signings have taken place within the past two years.
Given Holzhauser’s contract is due to expire in July, however, he’s not a player who would require Hertha, or Newcastle for that matter, to break the bank.
Steve Bruce has prioritised players with a proven Premier League record such as Callum Wilson, Jeff Hendrick and Jamal Lewis.
But the chance to sign a genuine goalscoring midfielder, nicknamed ‘Messi Of The Alps’, for a cut-price fee may be too good to miss.
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