Newcastle emerge as ‘perfect destination’ for Champions League finalist as Howe eyes ‘luxury’ transfer

Newcastle United could be an option for Romelu Lukaku this season if Mauricio Pochettino decides he doesn’t want him at Chelsea, according to reports.

The Magpies are having a brilliant season in the Premier League with a top-four finish now looking extremely likely after they beat Brighton 4-1 at St James’ Park on Thursday night.

Eddie Howe’s side are now four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with two matches remaining and require one more win to guarantee Champions League qualification.

Playing in European football’s premier club competition could boost Howe’s summer budget as they look to stick to Financial Fair Play rules following their takeover by PIF in October 2021.

Lukaku has had a far from ideal time since making the decision to move back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021 after a brilliant season at Inter Milan.

30 goals in 44 matches in all competitions for the Serie A side persuaded Chelsea to spend £97.5m on the Belgium international but, despite ending up their top goalscorer in all competitions with 15 goals, the Blues loaned him back to Inter for this season.

with the Blues assessing whether he should stay, go back out on loan or be sold permanently.

with widespread reports indicating the former Tottenham boss will take over at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

It doesn’t feel like Newcastle need a striker at the moment with Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak sharing the goalscoring burden at St James’ Park.

But Spanish publication Fichajes claims that Newcastle ‘dreams’ of signing Lukaku this summer as they ‘aspire to the top’ and Inter Milan ‘does not seem to have the intention of negotiating’ a permanent deal for the Belgian.

For Lukaku, Newcastle ‘appears as a more than interesting alternative’ to staying at Chelsea with Howe seeing the potential signing of Lukaku as ‘a luxury reinforcement’.

The report adds that Newcastle would be the ‘perfect destination’ for Lukaku and it would be ‘one of the big bombings of the next transfer market’.

Lukaku recently acknowledged the impact that Inter Milan legend Adriano had on his game growing up.

“When I was young I remember people would say he’s a player with strength and power who only used his left foot.

“When I I saw him play I was only ten years old, and he changed everything for me.

“As an attacking partner I would have liked Ronaldo Fenomeno, because he’s right-footed and I’m left-footed. And also for the way he played. I’d also name Vieri.

“I would have liked to come up against Materazzi, because he’s tall, strong, and aggressive. And those kinds of defenders are the ones who give you the most problems. It’s when you struggle that you improve.”