Newcastle on track to sign Bundesliga striker in shock £36m move

Newcastle are poised to make Hoffenheim striker Joelinton their first signing of the summer in a shock club-record move worth £36m, claims The Daily Mirror.

The Magpies appointed former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce as Rafa Benitez’s replacement on Wednesday and they have a lot of work to do ahead of next season.

As well as losing Benitez, Newcastle have also sold star man Ayoze Perez to Leicester and opted against signing Salomon Rondon on a permanent transfer.

Newcastle are poised, however, to shatter their club-transfer record in order to land Joelinton from Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim.

The Premier League outfit made Miguel Almiron their record buy in January in a deal worth £20m but are prepared to surpass that fee to sign Joelinton.

The 22-year-old has spent the last four years at Hoffenheim, albeit two of those were out on loan at Rapid Wien, and enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign for the German side last season.

Joelinton played a direct hand in 12 goals in 28 league appearances in 2018/19 (seven goals, five assists) and garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.21 in that time.