Newcastle United are reportedly ready to break their transfer record to sign RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara in the January transfer window.
According to the Daily Express, the Magpies are plotting an £80m switch for the talented Mali international as they look to strengthen their squad in a bid to stay in the top-flight.
Eddie Howe's side are expected to face stiff competition from Manchester United for his signature, however, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick a strong admirer.
It is understood that the Red Devils started talks with Haidara last month and he has also suggested Old Trafford may be his preferred destination after he named United his "favourite team as a kid".
However, the source claimed that prizing Haidara away from Leipzig could be down to who comes in with the bigger bid and the Magpies are supposedly planning to make him the fourth-most expensive Premier League player of all-time.
Haidara's contract runs out in June 2025 and it has been reported that a £33m release clause will become active at the end of the season - more than half the amount Newcastle could reportedly offer this month.
He is currently away with Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations, though, which makes a deal harder to agree and Newcastle may have to wait until the summer to make a move.
A box-to-box midfielder, Haidara came through the ranks at his native NMG Academy Bamako before he joined RB Salzburg in 2016.
The Malian was sent out on loan to Austrian second tier outfit FC Liefering to gain regular first-team minutes and he became a regular in the side, making 25 appearances, scoring twice.
After returning to Salzburg at the start of the 2017/18 season, there was some uncertainty about Haidara's future but he quickly cemented himself as a fans' favourite.
Haidara played an important role as Die Roten Bullen lifted the Austrian Bundesliga title and the Austrian Cup, with the 5"9 anchorman starting in all but one league game.
In December 2018, Haidara was signed by Leipzig and he has since become one of the brightest young talents in Europe with his consistent performances in the Bundesliga and in Europe.
During the 2019/20 campaign, Haidara helped Leipzig to reach the Champions League semi-finals, where they eventually lost out to Paris Saint-Germain.
Predominately a central midfielder, he can also play in a more advanced role or in a deeper position and Haidara has demonstrated his versatility which could suit Howe's style of football.
This season, Haidara averages 0.6 key passes, 1.6 tackles and 0.9 dribbles per-game and there's no doubt he would bring plenty of quality and strength to the Magpies' midfield.
But Leipzig's reported asking price may put off Newcastle from making a bid and they could look elsewhere, with Ross Barkley, Aaron Ramsey and Yves Bissouma amongst those linked.
