Bayer Leverkusen reveal asking price of 23-year-old striker linked with Newcastle in January

The search for more firepower for Newcastle United continues as Financial Fair Play ruined any attempts of bringing someone in to bolster the attack in January.

Newcastle were reportedly looking at making a move for Bayer Leverkusen's Nigerian striker Victor Boniface in January, but FFP put a stop to the Magpies doing any meaningful business.

In October, The Sun reported that Newcastle had despatched scouts to watch the striker in action ahead of a potential January bid, but nothing more came of it.

At the time, a fee wasn't mentioned, but today it has been reported that Leverkusen have set a price for anyone interested in Boniface this summer.

Does Boniface indeed have a bonny face?

Putting aside the fact that his name sounds perfect for the Geordies (if it is actually pronounced as it looks, that is), Newcastle are desperate for a striker or two before next season gets underway.

Boniface has been on fire for Leverkusen this season with 10 goals and seven assists from 16 outings in the Bundesliga, which has caught the attention of several clubs.

With Callum Wilson likely to be leaving this summer, Newcastle will need to bring in two strikers, but with our spending power hampered by FFP/PSR, then Eddie Howe is going to have to work smart in the transfer market.

Newcastle are building a decent short list of strikers

Journalist Florian Plettenberg today claimed that Leverkusen will be looking for bids upwards of €55million (£47million) for Boniface in the summer.

Given the premium that is usually attached to strikers, that seems like a bargain for a 23-year-old with that kind of a goalscoring record.

With Alexander Isak as our main striker, Boniface would be the ideal back-up/alternative when rotation was needed, then if we do end up selling Callum Wilson, Howe would need to bring in another striker as backup to those two. Viktor Gyokeres has been linked, but at £43million it would be one or the other between him and Boniface, with Howe more likely to look to someone younger and cheaper as the third choice.