Get the latest NUFC transfer and takeover news straight to your inbox for FREE by signing up to our newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Newcastle United fans may not have many Magpies to watch at the World Cup in the coming weeks, but there are some players who have been heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park who will be on show.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is the only current Newcastle player who feature in any of the 32 squads, and he will be sold this summer, while ex-United winger Florian Thauvin is the only former Magpie among the other 735 players who will feature in Russia.

But there are still players Newcastle fans can cast their own eyes over as they sit back and enjoy the world’s premier football tournament over the next month - and NUFC Writer Chris Waugh has picked out eight to watch out for...

Aleksandr Golovin (attacking-midfielder)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The 22-year-old attacking-midfielder has been scouted by a host of Premier League clubs, with Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion among the English sides linked with his signature.

But Golovin’s agent, during an interview with a Russian website, name-checked both Newcastle and Southampton as the two Premier League clubs he believes hold an active interest in signing the 19-cap Russia international this summer.

Rafa Benitez is understood to have made signing an attacking-midfielder a priority, and his recruitment team have been scouting a number of targets in recent months - but whether Golovin is high on that list remains to be seen.

If Newcastle do want to sign Golovin this summer, then the Magpies may need to break their transfer record in order to secure a deal, with Golovin’s agent claiming CSKA Moscow want £17.6million (€20m) for the midfielder.

Golovin has been the poster boy of Russia’s World Cup campaign and fans should be able to see him from the tournament’s opening match against Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Fixtures: Russia vs Saudi Arabia (Thursday, 4pm), Russia vs Egypt (Tuesday, 7pm), Uruguay vs Russia (Monday June 25, 3pm).

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Nicolai Jorgensen (forward)

Benitez identified the Denmark international as his top January striker target and the Magpies made two bids for the forward.

However, United never came close to matching Feyenoord’s £20million asking price for the striker, and instead Newcastle signed Islam Slimani on a half-season loan deal from Leicester City on deadline day.

Once his move failed to materialise, Jorgensen’s form dipped dramatically - and the striker endured a three-month goal drought.

Benitez still wants to recruit a centre-forward this summer, but it unclear whether Jorgensen remains his top target - given that Feyenoord are still expected to demand close to £20m for his signature.

With eight goals in 28 appearances for Denmark, the 6ft 3in striker is likely to find the back of the net in Russia, too.

Fixtures: Peru vs Denmark (Saturday, 5pm), Denmark vs Australia (Thursday June 21, 1pm), Denmark vs France (Tuesday June 26, 3pm)

Andrej Kramaric (forward)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

He may have failed to make an impact at Leicester following a £9m move in 2015, but Kramaric’s career scoring record remains very impressive - and Newcastle are understood to have watched him extensively over the past 12 months.

Since joining Hoffenheim in 2016, the Croatia international has scored 28 goals in 68 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, and he is still believed to be earn another opportunity in the Premier League.

But, with Hoffenheim guaranteed a place in the Champions League group stages for next season, the 26-year-old will require an enticing offer to return to England.

Given the competition Croatia have up front, Kramaric is not always an automatic starter, but the former Dinamo Zagreb striker has scored nine goals in 31 appearances for his country.

Fixtures: Croatia vs Nigeria (Saturday, 8pm), Argentina vs Croatia (Thursday June 21, 7pm), Iceland vs Croatia (Tuesday June 26, 7pm)

Alfred Finnbogason (forward)

A striker who United considered during the final days of the January transfer window, Finnbogason has scored 22 goals in 46 Bundesliga games for FC Augsburg - the German side who Newcastle host at St James’ Park in their final pre-season friendly in August.

Having scored 53 goals in 65 league goals for Heerenveen between 2012 and 2014, Real Sociedad took a risk on the forward - but he struggled to find the back of the net in Spain, and was loaned to Olympiacos before eventually moving to Germany.

But over the past two seasons, the 6ft-tall Iceland striker has shown he can cut it in a physical league - and, given that he has a similar playing style to Jorgensen, he is someone who should be considered.

At 29 years of age, however, Newcastle may deem Finnbogason a little too old to sign this summer - but it will be intriguing to see if he can add to the 13 goals he has scored in 47 appearances for his country.

Fixtures: Argentina vs Iceland (Saturday, 2pm), Nigeria vs Iceland (Friday June 22, 4pm), Iceland vs Croatia (Tuesday June 26, 7pm)

Yoshinori Muto (forward)

Someone who is far from a household name in England, but Muto has certainly impressed in the Bundesliga over the past few seasons.

With 20 goals in 65 league appearances for Mainz, the forward has helped his club steer clear of relegation trouble in the last couple of years.

Though his record for Japan is far-from impressive - he has two goals from 21 caps - Muto is not always his nation’s starting striker.

The 25-year-old has regularly been linked with the Magpies in recent months, and Newcastle have had several scouts watching matches in Germany over the last couple of seasons.

Fixtures: Colombia vs Japan (Tuesday, 1pm), Japan vs Senegal (Sunday June 24, 4pm), Japan vs Poland (Thursday June 28, 3pm)

Marcus Rashford (forward)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

The 20-year-old is regarded as one of England’s most-exciting prospects - and he scored a magnificent goal during the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Costa Rica at Elland Road last Thursday.

Rashford is part of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup, despite having been left frustrated by his number of starts at Manchester United last season.

The forward made 35 Premier League appearances in all for the Red Devils, but started just 17 times - scoring seven goals and providing five assists in the process.

In a feature in The Daily Mail discussing Rashford’s future, Newcastle, Everton and Leicester City were listed as being among the clubs “lining up to take the forward on loan”.

A player of Rashford’s quality would certainly be of interest to the Magpies if he becomes available, but he is not necessarily a ‘target’ so to speak.

If he excels out in Russia, Rashford may play himself back into the Man United starting line-up - but, if he struggles, then the forward may push for a loan move next season.

Fixtures: Tunisia vs England (Monday, 7pm), England vs Panama (Sunday June 24, 1pm), England vs Belgium (Thursday June 28, 7pm)

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (attacking-midfielder)

(Image: Bongarts)

United were one of a host of clubs who wanted to sign the England international on loan in January 2016, but Conte opted to keep him at Stamford Bridge.

After Loftus-Cheek excelled at Crystal Palace last season, he may be given a chance to impress at Chelsea.

Should that not be the case, then Benitez would be keen to bring the 22-year-old to Tyneside - with Newcastle likely to explore the possibility of signing a Chelsea youngster on loan this summer.

Loftus-Cheek is far from an automatic starter for England, but he should be given at least a couple of opportunities to add to his four caps in Russia.

Fixtures: Tunisia vs England (Monday, 7pm), England vs Panama (Sunday June 24, 1pm), England vs Belgium (Thursday June 28, 7pm)

Badou Ndiaye (midfielder)

Newcastle watched Ndiaye while he was playing out in Turkey for Galatasaray, but they were never going to pay the £14m fee which Stoke City forked out for the midfielder in January.

But Benitez is understood to have been impressed by the feedback he received on the Senegal midfielder - and Ndiaye was one of Stoke’s best performers during the Potters’ woeful second half of the campaign.

The 27-year-old could leave the Bet365 Stadium this summer and, if he is available for a cut-price deal, Newcastle may reignite their interest.

Given that Senegal are in one of the most wide-open groups out in Russia, Ndiaye has the opportunity to show he can perform at the highest level, too.

Fixtures: Poland vs Senegal (Tuesday, 4pm), Japan vs Senegal (Sunday June 24, 4pm), Senegal vs Colombia (Thursday June 28, 3pm)