Newcastle have been told by RB Leipzig that they'll eventually have to cough up more than £22.5m if they want to secure Ademola Lookman's services this month.
The Magpies are looking to bolster their attacking options in January, with Lookman a priority loan target. But it's understood that the Bundesliga leaders have asked for a higher fee than the one that they paid Everton for the 22-year-old in the summer.
There is certainly a possibility that Lookman will leave for St. James' Park on loan this month, but Die Roten Bullen want a guarantee of a future sale included in any sort of deal.
After impressing for what was then Ralf Rangnick's Leipzig side in the 2017/18 campaign, in which he scored five and set up four in 11 games for the east German outfit, the club decided to pay more than £22m for the forward in the summer.
However, with strikers Timo Werner and Yussuf Poulsen both enjoying stellar campaigns along with creative midfielders Marcel Sabitzer, Emil Forsberg and Christopher Nkunku under Julian Nagelsmann, Lookman has seen little action this season.
The former Charlton starlet has played just 131 minutes in the Bundesliga
And now, the Newcastle Echo have, ironically, echoed reports that Lookman is keen on a move away from the Red Bull Arena this month in a bid to get regular football, with Leipzig happy to let him go for the right price.
Blessed with tremendous pace and a creative edge in the final third, Lookman could be the perfect man to fit Steve Bruce's direct style at Newcastle
If he does arrive in the north east, the England Under-21 international will likely provide cover for Allan Saint-Maximin - who could return from injury this weekend - and Miguel Almiron, with Christian Atsu the only viable back-up currently in Bruce's squad.
Source : 90min