An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Ludovic Ajorque in the summer transfer window...

What's the talk?

According to Football Insider, the Magpies are one of several clubs eyeing up a deal to snap up the attacker ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, as Dan Ashworth plots a swoop for the number nine. 

The report names fellow Premier League sides Leicester and Crystal Palace as two of the teams set to battle it out with the Toon to secure his signature in the coming weeks.

It has been reported that Strasbourg are willing to part ways with the striker for a fee in the region of €15m (£13m), although it remains to be seen how much Newcastle are prepared to pay for him.

Big Callum Wilson upgrade

Ashworth can land Newcastle a big upgrade on their current first-choice striker - Callum Wilson - by sealing a deal to bring Ajorque to St. James' Park this summer.

Firstly, he is more reliable in terms of his availability for selection at league level. In the last two Ligue 1 campaigns, the forward has started 65 matches and only missed five games in total.

Wilson, meanwhile, has started 39 times since the start of 2020/21 and been absent on 32 occasions. This shows that he has been unreliable for the Magpies as he spends far too much time on the sidelines, whilst the Frenchman rarely misses games and has the durability to play 30+ matches.

In terms of their impact when they are on the pitch, Wilson has found the back of the net 20 times and assisted five in the last two Premier League seasons.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg boss Julien Stephan once dubbed Ajorque a "complete" striker and he has showcased his quality in the top-flight of French football for several years.

In the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns combined, the 28-year-old plundered 28 goals and set up 12 - averaging a SofaScore rating of 7.10 or higher in that time.

This came after he scored 17 goals in his first two seasons in Ligue 1 and shows that he has progressed as a player with more experience at the top level.

Therefore, Ajorque would be a big upgrade on Wilson as he is likely to be available for more matches and has the potential to offer more in terms of both goals and assists in the final third for the Magpies.

That is why Ashworth must ensure that he is able to beat Palace and Leicester to the gem's signature before the end of the window.

AND in other news, Imagine him & ASM: NUFC can form dream duo in swoop to sign "wonderful" £50m dynamo...