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Newcastle United have earmarked Sébastien Haller as the target man they want to help lead their promotion charge.

But they could need around £6million to land the 6ft 2in striker from FC Utrecht this summer with the player under contract until 2019.

United sources have confirmed that the club have made contact with the Dutch club over a possible transfer after missing out on other targets in the last couple of weeks.

Haller is one of two targets that Newcastle are aiming to land in the next week or so.

The French Under-21 international has scored 30 goals in 52 games for Utrecht in the Eredivisie after joining the club from Auxerre.

His arrival could also trigger a loan exit for Adam Armstrong with Newcastle eager for the Geordie to get as much game-time as possible this term with a host of clubs queuing up to sign him on a temporary basis.

However, if Newcastle can land the defensive and attacking targets they want in the next week there could be a spate of permanent exits in the pipeline.

(Image: Getty Images)

Rafa Benitez said last night: “Until the end of the transfer window, it is quite complicated to keep everybody focused.

“But we are doing what we have to do every week.

“We were talking about Gouffran, and maybe he was thinking about offers that could come, but he had to play and he did really well.

“It is not easy for any player to think ‘I have to be really concentrated and focused when maybe tomorrow I will leave’, but you have seen examples in the Premier League of players playing one game and then leaving the following day for another team.

“I’ve said a lot that these players are quite professional.

“Every training session they are working hard, even the players who know they might leave.”