Newcastle United now face competition from Real Madrid for £22m Premier League midfielder this summer

Qualifying for the Champions League this season is going to be absolutely huge for Newcastle United when it comes to the summer transfer market.

Newcastle have a lot of shopping to do in the off season to get the squad back up to where it needs to be after allowing several players to leave in the past few transfer windows without really bringing in replacements.

The Magpies learned the hard way last season that if your squad isn't strong enough, a Champions League campaign can really take a toll. But that's where Newcastle need to be.

One of the biggest problems Newcastle faces is that they need Champions League-quality players to get into the competition, but without having the Champions League to offer, it's hard to lure that level of player to the club.

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Real Madrid look set to enter the race for Adam Wharton

It doesn't help Newcastle's case when they identify a target and other, so-called bigger clubs, identify the same target, and they don't come much bigger than Real Madrid who are now, according to The Daily Mail, casting their eye over Crystal Palace sensation Adam Wharton.

The England midfielder has been on Newcastle's radar for a while and was linked with a move to Tyneside before Wharton's £22 million move from Blackburn to Crystal Palace.

Now valued at closer to £70 million, Newcastle will face heavy competition for Wharton's signature this summer.

Adam Wharton is expected to be in Thomas Tuchel's England squad this month

Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are also monitoring Wharton's situation, but they will also feel threatened by Real Madrid's sudden interest.

Wharton is just returning from a long lay off following hernia surgery, but as stated in the Mail's report, he's expected to be in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad due to be announced in 10 days.

Newcastle aren't shy of midfielders, but Adam Wharton is one of those players that you create space for. He's already top-quality but the 21-year-old can still get even better.