Newcastle brace themselves for €17m bid as the club looks to buy Arokodare in the summer

ENGLISH Premier League giants Newcastle United have opened up discussions with Belgian side Genk about signing Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare during the forthcoming summer transfer window.

Arokodare, 24, who made his Nigeria debut last month in a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, has been prolific in the Belgian league this season, thus attracting attention from all across Europe. He has scored 20 goals and provided five assists in 38 matches across all competitions so far this season.

As a result of the interest from across Europe, Genk have slapped a €17m transfer fee on the striker, who rejected the chance to join Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor last summer. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, hopes to be able to convince the club to fork out the cash to sign the 1.97m striker.

Arokodaré has a contract with Genk  until 2027, so if Newcastle want his services, they will have to meet the Belgian club's demands. A big targetman who joined Genk as a replacement for Paul Onuachu who had left for Southampton, Arokodare had a hard first season in Belgium but has now settled down.