Newcastle and West Ham keen on ex-Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi but Union Berlin demand whopping £25m transfer fee

NEWCASTLE and West Ham are interested in high-flying Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi this summer.

The Nigerian forward is having a stunning season in the Bundesliga after his £6million switch from Liverpool last July.

Taiwo Awoniyi failed to break into the Liverpool team but is now being eyed by three of their Prem rivals following his hot streak for Union BerlinRex

He already has 16 goals and five assists, netting twelve times in the league alone as Berlin fight for a European spot.

SunSport understands the Premier League duo along with Southampton have already scouted him this campaign.

But his German side will demand between £25m and £30m to let him leave during the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old also has a clause in his move to the Bundesliga entitling Liverpool to a 10 per cent sell on fee.

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Awoniyi joined Liverpool in 2015 but never made a first-team appearance, instead having SEVEN loan spells in Belgium and Holland.

And after shining for Berlin in the last of those temporary stints, he has only got better since making that move permanent.

Awoniyi’s loan form helped the Germans qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League as they finished seventh in just their second season back in the top flight.

And they are holding that position again this term, with Awoniyi’s goals crucial as they are only the 11th-highest scorers in the Bundesliga.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are tipped to test Kalvin Phillips’ loyalty to Leeds by offering him an astonishing pay rise.

The £60m-rated England midfielder, 26, was expected to reject Manchester United and West Ham by extending his Elland Road contract, currently worth £25,000 a week.

But it’s claimed the Toon could offer a staggering increase to weekly wages of around £120,000.