Newcastle favourites to sign Manchester United attacking target?

Newcastle United are reportedly front-runners to sign Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele at the end of the campaign.

The Frenchman has snubbed a new deal with the Catalan giants, and he could leave them for free when his contract expires next summer.

The Blaugrana are still hopeful of negotiating an extension, but El Nacional claims that he could be headed to the Premier League.

Newcastle and Manchester United are both interested in his services, but the former have the edge after their big-money Saudi takeover.

The Blaugrana have offered Dembele around €10m per year to stay. The Magpies are willing to pay him more than €15m annually.

On top of this, they are ready to hand a similar signing-on fee (€15m) while his agent will also be paid substantially for the deal.

A deal may depend on them avoiding relegation. They are currently three points adrift of safety, and should be fancied to beat the drop.

The new owners plan to go on a January spending spree. Their survival hopes should be boosted with multiple mid-season signings.