Newcastle and Everton dealt blow in their January pursuit of 42-goals-in-41-games striker

Newcastle are in dire need of a quality striker to help arrest their poor run of form in front of goal, and the January transfer window should present them with the perfect opportunity to land one.

The Toons have managed to average just a goal per game in the Premier League this term, and are already identifying striking targets ahead of winter.

Having failed to land Sporting Lisbon hitman Bas Dost in the summer, as they were unable to meet his £53million asking price, it’s believed Newcastle would launch another bid for the Portuguese by the turn of the new year.

Struggling Everton also failed with a bid for Dost, but still retain interest.

However, the 28-year-old has dashed the transfer hopes of the EPL duo, as he has revealed of his intentions to stay with Sporting Lisbon until the end of the campaign.

Dost ruled out a mid-season exit thus: “I’m not waiting for a winter transfer at all. I’m excited at Sporting and I want to be a champion here. I’m not leaving in the winter break.”

The Dutch international has been in red-hot form since joining Lisbon from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2016, scoring 42 league goals in 41 games.

8 of those have come in 10 outings this term, and his quality would have no doubt come handy for a Newcastle side hoping to finish in top 10 and an Everton side looking to win games.