The former Liverpool player is edging closer to a ‘profitable’ move to Newcastle after being renewed

Newcastle United have money to spend during the summer transfer window, with the former Liverpool star believed to be on their radar.

Newcastle’s summer is already shaping up to be one of the most important of PIF’s tenure, and rightly so.

Sitting in 13th place in the Premier League with two games remaining, Eddie Howe’s side have had a campaign below the standards set last season that Tyneside could only dream of.

16 defeats in 36 games clearly state the story – this team was simply not good enough.

The problems facing the club extend beyond the bottom of the league.

Anthony Gordon continues to attract interest from Bayern Munich, with reports this week suggesting the German giants have agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old.

Losing a player of his caliber – one of the few consistent players in a disappointing season and top goalscorer – will represent a significant blow to the squad and morale at St James’ Park.

He is not the only star who could leave, with Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento and others linked with a top flight in the summer.

Newcastle also face the challenge of moving from PSR to the new Squad Cost Ratio financial system, which will cover wages, transfers and agent costs at 85 per cent of football revenue from next season.

The club posted a healthy profit last year, but much of that was driven by the stadium sale and lease program rather than organic growth, and senior figures have warned they will not automatically unlock a bigger transfer budget.

Still, the recruitment department was working.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Newcastle scouts have made another trip to France to watch Monaco playmaker Lamine Camara, with belief growing within the club that the 22-year-old Senegal international is set for Tyneside this summer.

Alongside Camara, Howe’s side are also interested in former Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez.

It looks like Newcastle are set to make a move for former Liverpool star Darwin Nunez

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, the prospect of a deal to bring Nunez to Newcastle ‘continues to strengthen’ as a potentially “big money” move is ‘closer’.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan has been suspended at Al-Hilal since February, having not been included in a single match-day squad in the months since, and a return to European football is now being described as “very likely” ahead of next season.

Newcastle are said to have pursued Nunez for years – from his time at Benfica and throughout his time at Liverpool – but have never been in a position to do a deal.

This summer may be different.

Reports indicate that Al-Hilal are willing to terminate the striker’s contract with a year left, which will make him available if he is sold for free.

His time at Anfield was a mixed bag – 40 goals in three seasons was a good return, but not enough to silence the doubters or justify the huge fee Liverpool paid to bring him from Benfica.

Another catch is, of course, money. Not transfer money – wages.

Nunez’s contract in Saudi Arabia is huge, and any team hoping to sign him will have to come close to meeting those ‘huge’ terms.

Newcastle, Chelsea and Juventus are all in this frame, and any side willing to meet these requirements will have a chance.

It won’t be a straightforward deal with the club still operating on a much lower fee than those in the top six.

But Newcastle’s bosses are determined to push back into European territory next season, and Nunez – if the numbers can be made to work – could represent the kind of signing that could strengthen Howe’s attacking options.