Newcastle 'big candidate' to sign Coutinho, 'court' Grillitsch, summer plans emerge
Eddie Howe's Newcastle United continue to be linked with several top names despite the January transfer window closing, with Coutinho and Florian Grillitsch the latest
Newcastle United could sign Aston Villa's on-loan star Coutinho this summer, a former teammate has claimed.
The Brazilian has moved back to the Premier League until the summer, although Villa do have the option to bring him in permanently.
But ex-Liverpool teammate Jose Enrique thinks that if he does well between now and the end of the season, Coutinho's head may get turned.
The club are also said to be "courting" Hoffenheim midfielder Florian Grillitsch ahead of the Austrian's contract expiring in the summer.
Eddie Howe's top summer transfer window targets are also said to have been revealed.
Daily Star Sport has taken a look at the latest Newcastle United transfer news below.
Grillitsch "courted"
Newcastle are "courting" Hoffenheim's Florian Grillitsch and could move to sign the midfielder this summer, it has been claimed.
Kicker claims the player may have moved during the January transfer window if he had not contracted coronavirus.
The report claims Newcastle are interested in signing the player, but will face competition from Arsenal as well as clubs in Italy.
It is added that a departure in the summer is "taking on more and more concrete form".
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Coutinho linked
Newcastle United could sign Coutinho in the summer if he impresses in the Premier League before the end of the season, according to Jose Enrique.
The Brazilian playmaker is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Barcelona and reports suggest the loan agreement includes an option for Steven Gerrard's side to buy the player for a fee of around £33million.
But BirminghamLive reports that Enrique thinks Newcastle could yet gazump the move.
He said: "But if he does really well for Aston Villa, Newcastle stay in the Premier League and they come for Coutinho, Villa can’t do anything to stop that! What Newcastle can offer, money-wise, Aston Villa can’t.
"But knowing Coutinho, he’s won a lot, if he’s happy at Aston Villa, his family are happy and he’s a family guy, he could stay and Aston Villa will keep trying to sign better and better players. If he does well, Newcastle could be a big candidate to sign him."
Summer plans emerge
Newcastle's three main transfer priorities for the summer window have reportedly been revealed.
Fichajes reports the club will attempt to sign Lille centre-back Sven Botman, his midfield teammate Renato Sanches and Benfica forward Darwin Nunez.
The report claims Botman can be "one of the pillars of the club in the long term" and that the club are attracted by Sanches' previous Premier League experience with Swansea City.
It is added that Nunez "fits into Howe's plan because of his mobility and ability to attack into space with speed".