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Newcastle striker Ayoze Perez is a shock target for Barcelona.

Barca scouts have identified the Spanish striker as a potential understudy to their megastar front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar - and the Catalan club have contacted Toon chiefs.

Current Barca reserve forwards Sandro and Munir El Haddadi have grown tired of life on the bench at the Nou Camp and will depart this summer.

And that will leave the 22-year-old Perez with a dilemma - whether to continue playing regular first-team football on Tyneside or to join the world's most glamorous club, knowing game-time will be extremely limited.

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In pictures: Newcastle 1-0 Crystal Palace

Perez was signed from Tenerife for a bargain £1.5million in 2014 and has netted 13 Premier League goals for Newcastle in two seasons since.

Toon owner Mike Ashley may be tempted to cash in if Barca table a bid which represents a significant profit.

And Perez's decision may be depend on whether the Geordies avoid relegation from the top flight - with life as a Barca reserve likely to appeal more than a drop into the Championship.