Newcastle United will need to up their offer for Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun with a larger bid on the table from Crystal Palace.
Newcastle United’s need for a new striker has intensified in the last 24 hours.
Aleksandar Mitrovic will be unavailable for the next three games after being issued a retrospective ban for a needless elbow on West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini, while the Northern Echo claims the club will sell last season’s top scorer Dwight Gayle on deadline day.
Provided they find a replacement of course. Though it appears Newcastle have identified Besiktas’ Cenk Tosun as the striker capable of firing them to Premier League survival.
Besiktas need funds to complete the signings of AC Milan outcast Jose Sosa and Croatian defender Domagoj Vida, meaning manager Senol Gunes may be open to the departure of his talisman.
In a further boost, the Turkish transfer window is open for another week, giving the Super Lig champions time to find a replacement for Tosun.
The problem, however, is that Newcastle are not alone in their interest. Milliyet adds that Crystal Palace, who are desperately searching for a back-up option to Christian Benteke, are leading the chase after making a bid worth £10 million.
They have also offered the Turkish international a deal worth around £45,000 a week.
It has been a frustrating summer for Newcastle and losing one of their most eye-catching targets to a potential relegation rival on deadline day will not improve Rafael Benitez’s mood.
Tosun enjoyed the finest season of his career in 2016/17, scoring 24 goals in 47 games in all competitions.
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