The Magpies are currently pressing ahead with the signing of a new striker.

Newcastle saw a £70m bid for Benjamin Sesko rejected by RB Leipzig on Saturday as Eddie Howe prepares to lose Alexander Isak to Liverpool this summer.

Manchester United also remain keen on signing the Slovenia international – however – so the Magpies do not have a clear run at this deal.

In the background, Newcastle are also hoping to sign a central midfielder to replace Sean Longstaff after his move to Leeds – and one target in Mahamadou Doumbia is open to joining.

Mahamadou Doumbia confirms Newcastle interest and says he is “ready” to join

The Mali international has now been speaking to De Zondag about his future, and shared some interesting comments.

After the Belgian news outlet told Doumbia – who has been likened to Yaya Toure – about stories which say Newcastle, Napoli, Juventus, Marseille and Strasbourg are keen to sign him, the Royal Antwerp No.20 said: “Only Strasbourg is wrong.”

The 21-year-old was then pushed to share more about his future, to which he replied he is “ready” to join any of the aforementioned clubs if they meet the €20m (£17m) asking price.

Doumbia added: “We’ll see. I’ve let my agents know I don’t want to hear anything about it until it becomes concrete. When that happens, I’ll be ready.

“If a club pays that (£17m) for me, then I’ll be worth it.”

Not only is Doumbia viewed as a replacement for Longstaff, but Joe Willock is also facing at least six weeks on the sidelines with a calf problem, so the midfield department needs some reinforcing.

Everton could give Newcastle reason to hurry

TBR Football understand Everton are in talks with Douglas Luiz as the Toffees aim to sign the midfielder from Juventus.

As Doumbia confirmed, Juventus are one of the clubs trying to sign him this summer, so the Italian giants may well view the Malian as a replacement for the Brazil international.

In that respect, should Everton sign Luiz before Newcastle make serious progress in their pursuit of Doumbia, Juventus could use the cash to pinch the Royal Antwerp star ahead of Howe.