Newcastle fall behind in race for 20-year-old German forward with Premier League rival leading the way

Aston Villa have jumped to the front of the queue for an exciting young German forward wanted by Newcastle United.

Newcastle United's search for a new right-winger to join their attack next season is likely to be a saga that will drag on well into the transfer window.

At least that's how it's looking right now with another target set to join a Premier League rival with Aston Villa now said to be the frontrunner for Mainz forward Brajan Gruda.

Mainz slapped a €50million (£42millIon) price tag on Gruda to fend off interest when it became apparent that clubs were contemplating making offers for the 20-year-old.

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Aston Villa could offer Gruda what he wants this summer

It doesn't seem to have worked with TeamTalk reporting that Liverpool joins Aston Villa and Newcastle, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in retaining a keen interest, although it's unlikely anyone will meet Mainz's demands without a fight.

When it comes to who the starlet is likely to choose, TeamTalk believes Villa are in pole position owing to what they can offer that other clubs potentially can't.

Gruda is likely to get more first-team football at Villa than someone like Liverpool or Bayern Munich, and the fact that Newcastle can't offer Champions League football next season makes Aston Villa a more attractive proposition for now.

Newcastle might just let this one go

We can't see the Magpies throwing £40million on a risky acquisition like Gruda, however.

With money being so tight and so many positions to fill, we imagine the club will use this window to bring in players that have more of a chance of immediately improving the first team rather than fleshing out the squad with potential for the future as seemed to be the remit last year.

At least that's how things were looking before today, but now we have a new sporting director in place, the entire plan could be upended.