West Brom winger is on Toon’s radar

NEWCASTLE United have been linked with a January move for West Bromwich Albion winger Oliver Burke.

The 21-year-old winger is likely to be sold by the Baggies during the mid-season window.

West Brom’s manager Darren Moore is keen to recoup funds which he can reinvest to ensure his side can build upon its promising start to the Championship campaign and achieve promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

According to a weekend report, Newcastle are one of three Premier League clubs who have scouted the Scotland international in recent weeks.

The right-winger was once seen as one of the most-exciting players in the EFL when he was at Nottingham Forest.

Having impressed for a season in the Bundesliga following a £13million move to RB Leipzig, he returned to England with the Throstles last summer for £15m.

However, Burke has found opportunities limited at The Hawthorns and it looks likely he will leave the West Midlands to attempt to fulfil his untapped potential elsewhere.

The report claims scouts from Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion watched Burke play for the Baggies’ Under-21 side during their Checkatrade Trophy victory over Blackpool last week.

It said the Baggies will look sell the Scot in January in order to help finance a move for Blackburn Rovers’ midfielder Bradley Dack.

Whether Newcastle hold enough of an interest in Burke to make a mid-season move remains to be seen, though manager Rafa Benitez is keen to add greater pace and invention to his squad.

The Spaniard is yet to learn his budget for the January window, though, so a bid may also be dependent on how much of the £15m fee the Baggies paid for Burke they expect to receive.

Despite that, should United’s interest prove to be such they pursue a transfer for Burke, then Newcastle do have a positive relationship with the Baggies’ hierarchy following the summer loan swap of strikers Dwight Gayle and Salomon Rondon.