Newcastle heeding Alan Shearer's advice with ambitious Eddie Nketiah transfer plan - The Mirror

Newcastle are looking to sign a striker following a significant injury to Callum Wilson, with the Magpies eyeing Arsenal star Nketiah as a possible target in the January transfer window

Newcastle appear to be heeding advice from Alan Shearer with their plans to make a transfer move for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

Nketiah is out of contract at the Gunners at the end of the season, with the January window being the final opportunity for Arsenal to bring in a fee for him before he can leave on a free transfer.

The Magpies have reportedly grown interested in the 22-year-old amid an injury to Callum Wilson that is set to rule the Englishman out of action for a substantial period of time.

Wilson’s injury has seen signing a new forward become a priority for Newcastle, who are attempting to overhaul their squad as they try to secure Premier League survival.

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If they did follow through on their reported interest in Nketiah, the Toon would certainly please club legend Shearer.

Shearer scored 206 goals during a decade-long spell at his boyhood club, becoming the Premier League’s record goalscorer in the process.

Nketiah has actually broken Shearer’s goalscoring record for England Under-21s, registering 16 strikes in 14 games.

And after Nketiah secured that record, Shearer raved about the Arsenal star, tipping him to impress during an interview in November.

“What shone through was this Lewisham lad’s positive attitude, his lust for goals, that winning smile. I really liked him,” he wrote for The Athletic.

“When I watch Eddie’s goals for the under-21s, I see a finisher (and I love the joy it brings him). I see someone who can score with his left and his right, who gets a lot of his goals from around the six-yard box.

“He’s not toweringly tall (about 5ft 9in) or muscular, so perhaps the role he is being asked to play is not a natural one, but it is certainly not an impossible task.

“The key point is that the good players, the best players, find a way to do it. What never changes is a striker’s insatiable desire for goals, the thrill you feel when the ball hits the net.

“That feeling can never be replaced by anything else. I was glad to hear that Eddie feels the same. He is an impressive young man.”

According to the Daily Telegraph, the Magpies are heeding Shearer’s advice and have put Nketiah on their shortlist for a new striker.

With only six months left on his deal at Arsenal, he could be available for a cut-price fee and the promise of game-time in Wilson’s absence is sure to be attractive.

While he has struggled for opportunities in the Premier League this season, Nketiah has excelled in the Carabao Cup, scoring five goals in just three appearances.

Nketiah is described as being one of the ‘leading domestic options’ for Newcastle this month, with his contract expiry date making him one of their ‘more realistic’ targets.

With Nketiah keen to gain regular game-time, Shearer could be granted his wish if Newcastle firm up their interest.