Newcastle are competing with Barcelona for the signature of Norwegian sensation Bo Hegland, reports Football Insider.
Hegland, 22, has eight goals and 15 assists in 22 games in the Swedish top flight in 2026. The attacking-midfielder has twice played for Norway's under-21s, scoring once, though he's yet to break through to the senior national side.
But his performances in club football have piqued the interest of Newcastle, who were said to have registered interest in the summer window.
Hegland wasn't interested in a move in the summer, but there's a suggestion that he could move on soon, and that will be of interest to the Magpies as well as fellow interested club Barcelona.
Pete O'Rourke told Football Insider: "If the player is saying that a move could possibly happen in January, I'm sure that will pique Newcastle's interest in Hegland.
"They looked at him in the summer as they looked to reshape their midfield, having lost a number of top players.
"It's not just Newcastle who I'm sure are keeping tabs on him, though, because there's been talk that Barcelona have been sending scouts to watch him as well.
"That is a sign of how talented the player is, there are a number of top European clubs looking at him, so any deal might be difficult to do.
"He would tick a lot of boxes for Newcastle and they might have to act fast if they don't want to see rival clubs maybe steal a march of them for the pursuit of the midfielder."
Bo Hegland's price not known
While Newcastle could win the race with a superior financial offer, it's not reported what sort of price it would take to prise the Norwegian away from current club Djurgarden.
But given only one player to exit the Allsvenskan has ever cost over £20million - Zadok Yohanna to Brighton a few months ago - it would not seem Hegland would cost an absolute bomb.
The Magpies could therefore beat a cash-strapped Barcelona to the signing of a player in serious form.
Whether or not they'll be able to do so remains to be seen, as Barca tend to find ways of landing the players they want if they are motivated enough to bring them on board - and the scouting of Hegland suggests he could be at the front of their mind.
