Newcastle United are to rival Manchester City for the signature of a 17-year-old wonderkid, according to reports.

The Magpies are still in with a shout of a top-six finish despite being ridden with an unprecedented amount of injuries.

Eddie Howe has Newcastle in seventh place, just a point adrift of Manchester United, who occupy sixth.

With 12 points still to play for, Howe’s men still have everything to play for and can end the season on a real high note.

If they are to achieve European football, that would bode well for their transfer budget ahead of the fast-approaching summer window.

With that said, a transfer rumour has just emerged.

Newcastle United eye Assan Ouedraogo

Newcastle are set to rival Manchester City for the signature of Shalke midfielder Assan Ouedraogo.

The 17-year-old ‘wonderkid’ has enjoyed a productive breakthrough campaign in the second tier of German football this term, operating primarily as a central midfielder.

Though, he has also played out on both flanks and as a number 10, evincing his terrific versatility, which is a popular trait in the modern game.

Ouedraogo, who has been capped at youth level by Germany, is also attracting interest from Manchester United and clubs in the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig all mooted.

The race for the 2006-born is set to be highly contested, so Newcastle will likely need to qualify for the Europa League to stand a realistic chance of landing his signature.

The cost of Assan Ouedraogo

There has been some speculation that clubs within Germany will be able to lure him away for a cheaper fee than suitors abroad, perhaps because of an exit clause in his deal.

Ouedraogo has a Transfermarkt value of £6.8m, though, with increased competition, that will only drive the fee up.

Notwithstanding that, the German midfielder seems a feasible option for Howe, who still has to contend with Financial Fair Play regulations.

If club chiefs can pitch the right project to Ouedraogo, and perhaps use Lewis Miley as a case study for his development, then they have every chance of putting themselves in pole positions ahead of the leading clubs on the continent.

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