Newcastle United now eyeing 6'5" striker this summer to compete with Alexander Isak - player open to move

As much as the media will continue to push any story linking Newcastle United with a move for a striker as the club shopping for Alexander Isak's replacement, the fact of the matter is, Newcastle are in the market for a striker to support Isak, not replace him.

Unfortunately, suggesting that Alexander Isak is going to leave Newcastle this summer is just a better way to farm for precious clicks so when you click through on transfer stories involving strikers, particularly from outlets that have no attachment to the club, you're going to read some horseradish about looking for a replacement.

That's exactly how this story was framed by FootballFanCast which relayed a report from French outlet L'Equipe. Fortunately, they did move away from the replacement idea so they have been spared our wrath.

Now we can pick through the claims that Newcastle have their eye on Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha.

Emanuel Emegha could be a good backup for Alexander Isak

The 22-year-old Dutch striker has 13 goals and two assists in 25 Ligue 1 games this season, catching the eye of Newcastle's scouts as well as those of Chelsea. Obviously.

Standing at 6'5", Emegha could add something different to Newcastle's attack and would give Eddie Howe options to change things up in a meaningful way in those games where we're struggling to get in on goal.

Either putting him alongside Isak for the good old big player knock-down, or simply replacing Isak and changing the approach to a more aerial attack.

We still need some convincing that there's anything to this link

L'Equipe claims that Emegha would be open to a move to Newcastle, but there's no indication of what a move is likely to cost Newcastle.

Buying players from Ligue 1 would be cheaper than looking closer to home, however, and Transfermarkt has placed a valuation of €20 million (£17 million) on Emegha, but that's rarely a true indication of what a player will cost.

Emanuel Emegha looks like an interesting prospect, but we aren't sure how much truth there is to this one right now. He definitely wouldn't be seen as a replacement for Alexander Isak as FootballFanCast's report tries to make out, but he could make a good squad addition.