Meet the £68m Newcastle target who could be Jaissle’s new Ivan Toney

Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle knows that he has plenty of work ahead of him after his side were beaten 3-1 by Everton in their latest pre-season friendly.

The Magpies kick off their Premier League campaign in little over a week when they host Liverpool at St. James’ Park, and they may not be in the best condition heading into that match.

Jaissle still needs time to get the players used to his system and tactics, whilst he also needs the remainder of the summer transfer window to add new recruits to his squad.

One of the club’s priorities before the end of the window should be bringing in a new centre-forward to lead the line for the German manager this season.

Why Newcastle United need to sign a new striker

Despite Yoane Wissa scoring twice in the recent friendly win over Valencia, Newcastle need to go and sign a reliable goalscorer to ensure that the head coach has a proven goal threat up front.

No Magpies player reached double figures for goals in the Premier League last season, as Bruno Guimaraes, who has since signed for Arsenal, led the way with nine goals in the division.

Nick Woltemade, who joined from Stuttgart for £69m, was the highest-scoring striker in the squad with a return of eight goals in 33 appearances in the top-flight.

Two of the five players who scored more than four goals in the league, Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, have since been sold by the club this summer, leaving Jaissle short of proven attacking quality.

The German boss had Ivan Toney, who scored 55 league goals in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns combined, at Al-Ahli and may want a similar presence up front on Tyneside.

Newcastle eyeing move for their own Ivan Toney

Now, the club are being linked with an interest in an attacker who could arrive at St. James’ Park as Jaissle’s new version of the England international.

According to journalist Christian Vazquez, Newcastle United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Sporting centre-forward Luis Suarez this summer.

The reporter claims that the Magpies want to be the first club to make contact with the Portuguese giants to hold talks with them about a deal if he becomes available before the end of the window.

Vazquez reveals that the Premier League side are keeping tabs on his situation in Portugal and will look to make a move if the striker continues to push for an exit before the deadline.

Suarez, who has a release clause of roughly £68m, would be a terrific addition to the Magpies squad to lead their line in the Premier League this season, and they should keep pushing to get a deal done for him in the coming weeks.

Whilst Newcastle’s strikers, and players in general, struggled for goals last season, the Colombia international was in sensational form for Sporting in the Portuguese top-flight.

His output in Liga Portugal was very similar to what Toney produced in the Saudi Pro League for Jaissle in the 2025/26 campaign, as they both racked up around 30 goals and created plenty of chances for his teammates.

They also both finished the chances that came their way at an impressive rate, both outperforming their xG by between four and six goals, which speaks to their quality and composure in front of goal.

These statistics suggest that Suarez has the potential to be Jaissle’s new version of Toney because of the goalscoring quality and creativity that he can offer in the number nine position on a regular basis.

The 28-year-old marksman also showcased his ability in front of goal on the European stage, scoring five goals and providing two assists in ten starts in the Champions League for Sporting.

He scored two goals against Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to win the competition, and has shown that he can deliver against the best of the best in Europe.

After the problems that Newcastle had at the top end of the pitch under Eddie Howe last term, signing a striker like Suarez who could provide a constant threat in the final third would be a great piece of business.

It is now down to Jaissle to urge the board to strike a deal with Sporting so that he can have his next version of Toney at his disposal at St. James’ Park.