Newcastle ready to fight Liverpool for Gervinho

Newcastle United are set to join Liverpool in the race to sign Lille's Gervinho, according to talkSPORT.

The Magpies have reportedly earmarked the forward, who played in last summer's World Cup with Ivory Coast, as a possible replacement for Andy Carroll - who himself joined Liverpool in the January transfer window for £35 million.

Gervinho has scored 10 goals in 21 games this season for Lille and as a result is rumoured to have attracted the attention of several clubs across Europe, with Liverpool and Newcastle front-runners.

Reports from France have indicated the forward is ready to challenge himself in a different league and Lille are thought to be willing to sell for around £10m when the transfer window reopens this summer.

Newcastle are in great need of a striker after the sale of their star forward to the Reds this January, but any move they make for Gervinho could get hijacked by the Merseysiders.

The Magpies have recently signed Shefki Kuqi, who has played for Crystal Palace, Derby County, Swansea City and Blackburn, in a bid to resolve their striker problem.

Source: Goal.com

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