Newcastle United is actively seeking to strengthen its attacking options this summer, expressing interest in Cologne winger Said El Mala and maintaining contact with Lille forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
However, Newcastle faces potential competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, who are reportedly considering these players as alternatives if they fail to acquire their top targets: Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig and Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain.
This situation follows a recent transfer where Liverpool intervened to sign Osasuna winger Victor Munoz, despite Newcastle having agreed on a fee for the player. Liverpool reportedly paid the £34.6 million buy-out clause for Munoz, who was viewed as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon, now with Barcelona.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo, a forward for Lille, has been on Newcastle's radar since May. He is also attracting attention from other clubs while representing Belgium in the World Cup. Fernandez-Pardo can play as a striker or on either wing.
Newcastle has also shown interest in Cologne winger Said El Mala. The 19-year-old German U21 international scored 13 goals and provided five assists last season. Brighton and Brentford had previously made offers for El Mala, with Brentford's offer of £43 million being accepted by Cologne, but the player's representative declined the move. El Mala is noted for his speed, skill, and ability to score from distance.
Additionally, Newcastle was offered Bayer Leverkusen winger Kerim Alajbegovic. The 18-year-old has also drawn interest from Italian clubs, as well as Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Leeds. However, Newcastle is unlikely to pursue Alajbegovic at this time.