Arsenal contract rebel Eddie Nketiah is the latest striker to find himself linked with a move to Tyneside this month.
Reports claim Newcastle are eyeing up a move for the Gunners forward before the window slams shut on Monday night.
Nketiah is playing hardball over a new deal at the Emirates, with manager Mikel Arteta sidelining the youngster for most of the campaign.
The 22-year-old’s short career has already featured several highs and lows as ChronicleLive delves into the striker’s story so far…
Highs
Electric start at Elland Road
An impressive run for Arsenal’s youth side earned Nketiah a move to Leeds in August 2019.
The forward chose to don number 14 for the Whites - a tribute to Gunners legend Thierry Henry, who mentored Nketiah at the Emirates.
He immediately made an impact, scoring three goals in his first five games as manager Marcelo Bielsa hailed the youngster as a ‘complete striker’.
Breaking Alan Shearer’s record
Nketiah earned plaudits nationwide when he bagged for England U21s against Andorra to break Newcastle icon Alan Shearer’s long-standing record for the Young Lions.
He was a destructive goal machine at U21 level - bagging 17 goals in 16 games - as he captained Aidy Boothroyd’s men to a disappointing group-stage exit at the European Championships.
Despite a poor team effort, the young striker's own future certainly looked bright.
Mackem Slayer
Newcastle fans will be delighted to learn that Nketiah bagged the first hat-trick of his professional career last month… against bitter rivals Sunderland.
Arsenal dispatched the Black Cats 5-1 on home soil to deny them a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals and crush any dreams of a historic cup triumph.
If Nketiah could repeat that feat in a black and white shirt his name would become etched into Tyne-Wear Derby folklore forever.
Lows
Bielsa bust-up
Nketiah’s Leeds fairytale was short-lived as his loan spell was cut short due to a lack of game time and a bust-up with Bielsa.
The eccentric Argentine even criticised the striker ahead of the Whites’ trip to Arsenal a year later.
“Everything around the transfer of Eddie was a lie,” he said.
“Nketiah came to play. He didn’t play and he left.
“One player in six months plays two matches, thinks he will arrive at one club and play is underestimating what Leeds is as a club, a team and an institution.”
Miss of the season contender
Toon chiefs will be hoping Nkeitah can score the goals to keep Newcastle in the Premier League if he is signed before Monday’s deadline.
However, they will want to avoid watching replays of the striker’s one-yard miss against Everton last month.
With the scores level, Bukayo Saka picked out Nketiah unmarked at the back post, only for the Magpies’ target to hit the woodwork with a tame header.
Not a good sign for Newcastle fans!
Contract chaos
The striker’s season has been plagued by speculation surrounding his future at the Emirates.
Nketiah’s current deal expires in June and an extension was reportedly rejected last month.
Mikel Arteta insists he wants to keep the 22-year-old, saying: “I tell you every day that we want to keep Eddie. We see how he trains, that’s what he does every day, he works so hard and puts the ball in the net every session.”
The Spaniard gave an update a fortnight ago, hinting that he would rather lose the player for nothing than allow him to leave in January.
“The situation is that Eddie is our player,” he added.
“he’s under contract so he is going to stay here with us.”
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