Newcastle "Have £11m Bid Rejected" For 15-Goal Striker - But "Close" To Agreeing Fee

Newcastle United have returned with an £11 million bid for Bordeaux striker Diego Rolan but the French club have rejected the Magpies' latest offer, according to reports. Alan Oliver of the Sunday People claims that the 22-year-old Uruguayan striker remains a key transfer target for the Magpies - and that the Premier League and Ligue 1 sides are close to agreeing a fee. McClaren is still believed to want "two or three" players before the transfer window closes, and Rolan could be one of them.

Interestingly, last month Bordeaux€™s president confirmed that Newcastle had "been in contact" about the availability of Rolan this summer. Yet Aston Villa are hoping to pip the Magpies to the signing of the Bordeaux forward after reportedly offering £12.6 million for the Uruguayan. Intriguingly though, Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud only mentioned Newcastle€™s interest when he was interviewed by Mercato365 last month. He said:

"There has been contact with Newcastle - but never directly with us, only through various intermediaries. "With Newcastle I suppose you could say there is some truth in their interest."

Tim Sherwood is believed to be targeting Rolan as one of two strikers he intends to bring in to replace Christian Benteke, who has signed for Liverpool in a £32.5 million deal. Newcastle, meanwhile, may see the 22-year-old as a versatile option to play either through the middle or out wide - and Stoke City also have an interest in the forward. Despite Aleksandar Mitrovic having already arrived from Anderlecht, the club also want another forward. Six-cap Uruguay international Rolan, who has scored one goal to date for his country and played at the 2015 Copa America this summer, moved to France from Defensor Sporting in 2013 after an impressive South American Youth Championship and he has continued to improve at Bordeaux. A return of 17 goals from 61 league games is decent, while the 22-year-old also has the pace to operate as a wide forward or even as a winger. Incredibly, 15 of those 17 strikes came during the 2014-15 season - so it seems Rolan has really kicked on in recent months. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.