St James’ Park side chase Ivory Coast international.
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Newcastle United are to step up efforts to sign a new striker this summer and have set their sights on Vitesse Arnhem forward Wilfried Bony according to the Daily Star.
Alan Pardew has been frustrated in his attempts to bring in Andy Carroll from Liverpool and has seemingly given up his pursuit of Saint-Etienne forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and has not opted to chase Ivory Coast international Bony, who has been in phenomenal form in the Dutch top tier this season.
Bony racked up an astonishing 31 goals in 30 appearances for Vitesse and has become a much sought after striker as a result.
Prior to his move to Holland in January 2011 the powerful forward impressed at Sparta Prague but is arguably yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s ‘Big Leagues’ and as such there may be some reticence to make a big money offer for his services.
That said, £12m seems a decent price to pay for a player of 24 with the undoubted potential Bony possesses and Pardew may see the Vitesse man as an ideal replacement for Demba Ba, who left for Chelsea in January and hasn’t been effectively replaced.