Newcastle United have already got the ball rolling in the summer transfer window with a deal to sign Matt Targett on a permanent basis.

Eddie Howe had the left-back on loan from Aston Villa in the 2021/22 campaign and has now moved to tie him up on a long-term deal.

The club will now be looking at other targets to bolster further positions in the squad and it will be interesting to see how much PIF are willing to spend and who they will spend it on.

Former Premier League midfielder Jack Wilshere recently claimed that the Magpies will be interested in Gabriel Jesus if he becomes available, saying: “I think they will be queuing up (for Jesus).

“I think Arsenal will have a big chance of signing him because of his relationship with his manager. I think Newcastle would go for him. But I would love to see him at Arsenal.”

Howe's own Bukayo Saka

Newcastle must now swoop to sign the Manchester City striker, who is reportedly valued at £55m, as Dan Ashworth can land the Toon boss his own version of Saka by doing so.

FBRef list the pair as being similar players based on their statistics in Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days.

In the Premier League, Jesus was lethal in the final third as he managed eight goals and eight assists in just 21 starts last term. The attacker played in a variety of roles across the frontline as he showcased both his versatility and his quality in the English top-flight.

He was previously dubbed a "monster" by journalist Roberto Rojas and Pep Guardiola lauded his work rate earlier this year, saying: “He (Jesus) can play in the three positions up front, and when we need players who can help a lot, he’s the best in the world.

“(With him) we can be so aggressive, we can get extra rhythm for midfield players, can stay high.”

These quotes and the aforementioned statistics show that Jesus is a proven player in England who can be relied upon at the top end of the pitch, just like Saka.

In the 2021/22 campaign, the England international produced 11 goals and seven assists in 36 games - playing on both the right and the left flanks. He consistently delivered in the final third - as the Brazilian did for City - and proved himself to be an outstanding performer in the Premier League.

Therefore, by signing Jesus, Howe would have his own version of the Arsenal dynamo to select in his Newcastle XI next season. This is why Ashworth must now strike a deal to sign the Manchester City predator in the coming weeks...

AND in other news, NUFC can find their own Paqueta in deal for "glorious" £64m gem with "no weaknesses"...