Ivory Coast international wanted at St James’ Park.
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Newcastle United have made a £12million bid for striker Wilfried Bony and hope to beat off competition from Chelsea and Liverpool to capture the Ivory Coast international.
The Sunday Telegraph report that Newcastle manager has turned his attention to 24-year-old Bony, who is currently on duty at the African Nations Cup, after having a bid for St Etienne forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turned down.
Bony, who is also on the wanted list of Chelsea and Liverpool according to his agent, is seen as an ideal replacement for Demba Ba, who left to move to Stamford Bridge for £7.5million at the start of the transfer window.
An international team-mate of Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, Bony has caught the eye with 16 goals in 18 games already this season for Vitesse Arnhem in the Eredivisie in Holland – making him the league’s top scorer.
Newcastle have already made five signings this month – all from France – with the capture of Mathieu Debuchy from Lille, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from Montpellier, Nancy’s Massadio Hairada, Yoan Gouffran from Bordeaux and Toulouse’s Moussa Sissoko. They are also trying to sign Florian Thauvin from Bastia.