Hoffenheim striker Joelinton has completed a medical ahead of joining Newcastle United, according to Goal journalist Ronan Murphy.
The Bundesliga writer claimed via his personal Twitter account on Thursday that Newcastle should announce the 22-year-old as their first signing of the summer transfer window within the next 24 hours.
Joelinton to Newcastle should be announced in the next 24 hours. Yet another Hoffenheim player gone, their new head coach will have a big challenge. #NUFC #TSG
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) July 18, 2019
Completed. Transfer should be announced in the next 24 hours.
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) July 18, 2019
Newcastle are the only team in the Premier League that hasn’t signed a player so far this summer but after Joelinton underwent a medical with the Magpies, it would appear as though Steve Bruce is about to complete his first signing in charge of the Tyneside club.
OPINION
Joelinton is bound to become Newcastle’s first-choice striker next season so it will be interesting to see how Bruce views Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto now that he is in charge. Gayle was on fire while on loan at West Brom last season and has reportedly attracted yet more interest from the Championship ahead of next season. If Gayle is going to be down the pecking order behind Joelinton, then maybe another loan move to the second-tier is something that’s on the cards. As for Muto, the Japan international is yet to really prove himself in England due to him being in the shadow of Salomon Rondon last season. Muto has also been hit by injuries at St James’ Park and wasn’t exactly amazing against Wolves in China on Wednesday. Muto should be behind Gayle in the pecking order but it might be harder to move him on. Newcastle need another striker to join Joelinton in their squad for next season if they want to avoid relegation.
