Newcastle Transfer News: Chelsea Try To Hijack Toon Move For 26-Goal Striker

Newcastle United will face competition for Anderlecht striker Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer - with Premier League champions Chelsea looking to hijack the Magpies' move for the 20-year-old. Reports in Belgium have already suggested that both Swansea City and Newcastle United have failed with bids for Mitrovic and that Anderlecht are holding out for £15 million for the forward. And now The Mail claim Jose Mourinho has identified Mitrovic, who netted 26 goals last season, as one of his primary transfer targets.

New Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is looking to recruit at least two strikers this summer and Mitrovic is known to be high up the shopping list, alongside Queens Park Rangers forward Charlie Austin. Interestingly, Partizan Belgrade president Dragan Duric claimed in May that a deal had been agreed between the Magpies and Anderlecht for his former player, while reports in Germany suggested Borussia Monchengladbach were trying to hijack the £15 million move. The 20-year-old Serbian has netted 42 goals in 88 matches for the Belgian club, and has a career total of 67 strikes from 156 games. A powerful and relatively-quick forward, Mitrovic has an eye for goal and he grabbed headlines when he scored Anderlecht€™s equaliser at the Emirates Stadium last November when the Belgian side came from three goals down to draw 3-3 against Arsenal in a Champions League group-stage match. Anderlecht paid Partizan Belgrade a club-record £4 million for the 11-cap Serbia international, who started his career at Teleoptik, back in August 2013 and he has gone on to become one of Europe€™s most sought-after forwards. In 2014-15 Mitrovic bagged 26 goals in 49 matches, including 18 in 35 Belgian Pro League appearances and three in the Champions League. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.