Newcastle United are believed to be readying a bid for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez, according to reports.

What's the word?

Writing on Twitter, journalist Bruno Andrade revealed that the Magpies are set to make their interest in the Uruguayan more concrete with a bid of €70m (£59m), as manager Eddie Howe looks to bolster his forward ranks ahead of next season.

Amid all the speculation, Andrade said of the player's situation that: "Newcastle prepares offer of 70 million euros for Darwin Núñez. English club was one of the first to specifically approach Benfica, still in December, when Rui Costa received Steve Nickson, responsible for the Magpies scout. There are others interested in the Uruguayan in Europe."

This follows recent reports that the St James' Park outfit are eyeing a deal for the 22-year-old, while transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the forward is due to leave the Portuguese side this summer, with a fee of €80m (£67m) likely to be required.

The next Shearer?

The northeast side are currently crying out for a new centre-forward addition, with the club having failed to recruit a reliable, top quality goalscorer in recent times, having seen many high profile names come and go since the departure of the great, Alan Shearer back in the mid-noughties.

Although no one will likely ever replace the Premier League's leading goalscorer from his lofty perch in Newcastle folklore, few have even come close to replicating his success, with acquiring a top-class number nine having proven a real source of difficulty over the last decade or so.

There had been hopes that Callum Wilson could finally emerge as a mainstay in attack, although the former Bournemouth man has again struggled for fitness this term, while £25m January arrival Chris Wood appears nothing more than a stop-gap.

In Nunez, however, PIF could not only have found their first major marquee signing but also the heir to Shearer's throne, with the £36m-rated gem having proven himself a real prolific marksman in recent seasons.

Despite his relative youth, the 6 foot 2 ace - who has eight caps at senior international level - has already netted 68 career club goals, 48 of which have come since his move to Portugal in 2020, with that form also reportedly alerting the attention of the likes of Manchester United.

This season has been particularly fruitful for the starlet, whose been dubbed a "rough diamond" by pundit Steve McManaman, as he has bagged 34 goals in all competitions, including six goals in just ten games in the club's run to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Not simply an out-and-out goalscorer, Nunez also averages 1.1 key passes per game and has created ten big chances in the league this season, with Howe's side set to attain a real package should they be successful in their bid.

The club need a new centre-forward star of Shearer's ilk - the former Almeria man could well prove to be that figure.

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