Newcastle prepared to offer club £12.5m profit for in-form striker

Newcastle United are aiming to bolster their attack with a move for one of the country’s in-form strikers. 

According to the Sunday Mirror’s print edition (via the Express), Eddie Howe is targeting a £20m swoop for Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton.

The 22-year-old is in the form of his life, scoring 20 goals in 24 Championship matches so far this term.

Brereton’s goals have put Rovers in the mix for promotion to the Premier League which would end a 10-year exile from the top-flight. 

However, the Ewood Park outfit may have to face that challenge in the second half of the campaign without their star man.

Ben Brereton is having a prolific season.

Brereton is out of contract in the summer so Rovers could find Newcastle’s offer too good to turn down. 

If the Magpies do make the reported £20m offer then it would be £12.53m more than Blackburn paid Nottingham Forest for the forward in 2019.

Brereton, who is the first Rovers player to score 20 league goals since Newcastle legend Alan Shearer in 1995/96, has had a sensational 2021 having made his international debut for Chile, scoring three times in nine caps. 

Newcastle are in need of attacking options having scored just 19 goals in 19 Premier League games this term.

The Magpies have also won just once to date and sit two points adrift of safety.