Striker linked with £25m Newcastle switch now has four goals in two games after scoring winner against Real Madrid

As Newcastle United look to take on Everton without a recognised striker on the pitch, one forward linked with a summer move to Tyneside is in fine form.

Newcastle brought in Will Osula in the summer as back-up to Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak, but he was seen as a 'project player' and as such wouldn't be ready to tackle the Premier League early in the campaign.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, we're only a few games into the season and Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are both sidelined and with Osula not deemed ready, Eddie Howe has to go with Anthony Gordon up front.

It was the scenario we all hoped we'd never see again and in the summer there was a ray of hope as Lille striker Jonathan David had hinted that he would be open to a summer move and it was believed that £25 million would be enough to seal the deal.

Getty Images

Jonathan David can sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club in January

Ultimately the Canadian opted to stay put and see out his contract at the French club, but with that contract running out, clubs, including Newcastle, are already making their moves to get the 24-year-old to sign a pre-contract agreement to join in the summer.

David is a top striker with bags of pace and an eye for goal so competition was already fierce, but given his recent exploits, things may heat up even more.

Last night JD scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Lille beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League.

We will never understand why we didn't try our luck in the summer for £25m

This comes right off the back of a hat trick against Le Havre for Lille at the weekend proving that the striker is in top form and isn't distracted by transfer speculation.

Clubs more likely to be able to offer guaranteed Champions League football are likely to be in the mix for Jonathan David's signature so Newcastle will have to be in a healthy league position come January when he can sign a pre-contract agreement with his next club.

We'll never understand why we didn't throw £25 million at Lille in the summer and at least make an attempt to get him to move early, now our confidence that Newcastle can actually pull this signing off is waning. The dream of Alexander Isak and Jonathan David pulling defences apart looks likely to remain just that, a dream.