Leon Goretzka put forward for free transfer to the Premier League this summer

Newcastle have been urged to make a move for Germany star Leon Goretzka this summer by talkSPORT’s Inside the Toon panel.

The Magpies have endured a disastrous summer, having sold Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to Barcelona, Tottenham and Arsenal, respectively.

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Eddie Howe also departed the club and was replaced by German boss Matthias Jaissle.

Joelinton’s Magpies future is also in doubt amid reports he has told the club he wants to leave this summer.

What’s more, Newcastle were gazumped by Aston Villa in their push to sign Johan Manzambi.

And in their bid to bring in an experienced body in the middle of the park, they were rejected by former Tottenham man Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Newcastle have at least made additions in a key area, signing young central midfield pair Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba from Ajax and Monaco, respectively.

However, Newcastle need a seasoned head in midfield in order to improve upon last season’s disappointing 12th-place finish.

‘Newcastle have two options’

And speaking on Inside the Toon, talkSPORT’s Jack Cunningham believes Goretzka would be an ideal addition to the club.

On midfielders Newcastle should target, he said: “There are two that stick out to me, and they are not necessarily a No.6 because I think Bamba and Miley can cover that, but I do think we need another really good midfielder in there with a bit of experience.

“The two options I’ve got are Leon Goretzka and Curtis Jones. Goretzka is a free transfer.

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“He’s left Bayern Munich and is 31 now. Over 300 Bundesliga appearances. 70 Champions League appearances.

“Proper box-to-box midfielder widely seen as one of the fastest around, even still at 31. 50 goals for Bayern Munich.

“He’s German, so he’s got that connection with Jaissle. I think on a free transfer, a move for Goretzka would make a lot of sense.

“I don’t know what his wage demands would be because he was at Bayern Munich, so I am sure they would be quite high, but maybe Jaissle could convince him to make that move.”

Goretzka would be a ‘statement signing’

talkSPORT presenter Shaun Custis echoed Cunningham’s sentiments, adding: “Goretzka is top class.

“I have always admired him, but would it be a big step down for him?

“We like to think of Newcastle as being a big club that is going places, but for a player like him, who has spent so long at the very top, that is a hard move to make at his age to go to a club that you know is not going to challenge for big prizes next year.”

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Host Olly Clink chipped in: “It would be a statement signing if they managed to get Goretzka over the line.”

To which Custis replied:  “Oh, absolutely.

“It would be a superb signing, and it would make us all perk up a bit.

“If this bloke is prepared to join us, then that sends good signs to the rest of Europe that there is still a belief in the Newcastle project.”

Earlier this year, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed that Goretzka would leave the club at the end of the season.

“There have been several discussions with Leon over the past few days,” Freund said back in January.

“He’s very happy at Bayern and will remain here for the rest of the season.

“Everyone knows that his contract expires at the end of the campaign. We’ve spoken very openly with Leon about what his future will be.

“In the summer, Leon Goretzka’s time at Bayern will come to an end and he will set out on a different path.”