Newcastle United are believed to have made an offer to sign Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, in the January transfer window, although the Magpies are likely to face competition for his signature.

What's the word?

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Sports Witness, the Tynesiders are believed to be one of several clubs who have made an approach for the 28-year-old, with the Premier League outfit's financial might seemingly placing them ahead of Sevilla in the race for the Dutchman.

The suggestion is that the Catalan giants are potentially looking to part ways in the New Year in order to get the former Lyon man - who only arrived at Camp Nou last year - off their wage bill, with the La Liga side seemingly keen to free up space for their own new additions.

The report also adds that the former Manchester United man - who was linked with a move to St James' Park in the summer - is seeking a 'lucrative contract' if he is to move on in the winter window, something which PIF would seemingly be able to offer.

Imagine him and Wilson

While Depay's previous stint in English football arguably did not go to plan - with the explosive gem scoring just seven goals during his time at Old Trafford - the dynamic ace has more than shown his quality since then, notably scoring 76 goals and providing 55 assists in just 178 games during his time in France.

Even amid what has been a turbulent spell with La Blaugrana, the one-time PSV Eindhoven starlet has still made his mark when he has featured for Xavi's side, boasting a respectable haul of 14 goals in 41 games for his current side to date.

That has ensured that the fleet-footed "enigma" - as described by journalist Jonathan Liew - now has an overall club career record of 147 goals at senior level, having also plundered 42 goals and 30 assists in just 81 games for his country to date.

The £175k-per-week sensation will likely be looking to add to that tally at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, having become something of a talisman for Louis van Gaal's men in recent times in his creative, attacking berth.

The playmaker's arrival in the northeast could well add further firepower to a forward line that is already thriving at present under Howe, with Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson having scored eight and six goals, respectively, in the top-flight this term.

Adding Depay into the mix could well add another string to Newcastle's bow, with the 5 foot 9 ace typically lining up in a left-wing berth in his career to date, while also operating in a more free role off of a centre-forward.

That could well see the Moordrecht-born menace form an exciting attacking partnership with the aforementioned Wilson, with the latter man currently leading the line in the striking berth in the absence of the stricken, Alexander Isak.

With the second half of the season set to see Howe's men maintain their push to secure Champions League football, adding such an experienced and quality asset to the current ranks could well prove to be the difference, helping to ease the goalscoring burden on both Wilson and Almiron.