According to BILD, Newcastle United are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface to strengthen their attacking threat ahead of next season.
The Magpies are expected to have a busy summer transfer window after failing to secure any new additions last month, and the attacking threat is set to be a big focus for the club.
The sale of Miguel Almiron for him to return to his former club in the MLS, Atalanta United, means that there is a huge opportunity for the club to strengthen the right winger role, despite Jacob Murphy’s purple patch of form of late.
Indeed, the 29-year-old has found his attacking role on the right flank much easier this season but has rarely provided the consistent high quality in the position as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have displayed since their arrivals on Tyneside.
Completing a high quality and formidable front three with a talented young right winger this summer would put Newcastle in an enviable position for the future and would strengthen their team to comfortably progress and compete for the biggest honours in the game.
There have been a number of right winger options sounded out in the media with the Telegraph reporting that PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko, Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Southampton wonderkid Tyler Dibling are all options being assessed by the club.
However, transfer expert Christian Falk has claimed in his daily briefing this morning that Newcastle are now the “hottest candidate” for top-class striker Victor Boniface, in an attempt to strength the centre-forward role ahead of Callum Wilson’s potential departure when his contract expires in the summer.
Falk revealed:
“Newcastle are the hottest candidate for the striker. His contract with Leverkusen, currently set to expire in 2028, should be extended to 2030. Boniface would then double his salary from €3m (gross) a year to €6m (gross). However, both sides are hesitating.”
BILD reported earlier this week that Newcastle are interested in the player, but would likely need to meet the €70m (£58m) transfer free that Saudi club Al-Nassr offered Leverkusen in January, a move that ultimately fell through when they signed Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran instead.
Will Newcastle sign Victor Boniface?
There is no doubt that Boniface is the calibre of player that would be warmly welcomed in the North East, but would the 24-year-old trade first team football to rotate with star striker Alexander Isak.
Both Isak and Boniface have had their fair share of injury issues, but are both keen and consistent contributors in the final third who are deserving and capable of first team football whenever they are fit to play.
As a result, it would seem high unlikely that Newcastle would blow their budget on a back-up striker when a centre-back signing and a right winger are huge priorities for the recruitment plans in the summer.
Nevertheless, the Nigeria international – hailed a “complete player” by Leverkusen boss Xavi Alonso – in the top 2% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots on goal per 90, as well as ranking in the top 15% for non-penalty goals, progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches per 90.
While it would relieve the pressure on Isak in the number nine role, there is likely to be plenty of competition for the striker’s signature this summer with so many clubs looking for a number nine – both Manchester United and Arsenal included.
With that being said, it would be a no-brainer to sign Boniface if the opportunity did present itself for Newcastle, however, with Isak dominating and Boniface a hot prospect in Europe it is unlikely the striker would be happy to sit on the bench or rotate.
