Newcastle and Celtic battle for Uruguay £18million World Cup star Giorgian De Arrascaeta
De Arrascaeta featured for his country in Russia and is hoping his performances can be a springboard to make a name for himself in Europe
NEWCASTLE and Celtic are monitoring Uruguay World Cup star Giorgian De Arrascaeta.
The Cruzeiro playmaker helped steer his country to the quarter-finals and his performances in Russia have put a host of European clubs on alert.
De Arrascaeta, 24, is keen to try his luck in Europe after spending all his career in South America, where he has scored 16 goals in 73 games for the Brazilian side.
The Uruguay international, who has also found the net twice for his country in 16 appearances, was close to joining Monaco last year but failed to agree terms with the Ligue 1 side.
SunSport has been told Brendan Rodgers sent scouts to run the rule over De Arrascaeta playing in the Copa Libertadores earlier this year.
Toon boss Rafa Benitez has made adding a No10 a priority this summer and will have to break the £16million club record paid when Michael Owen joined from Real Madrid in 2005.
But any potential suitors will have to match the club's £18m valuation.
After three years in Brazil, Cruzeiro are resigned to losing their star man.
De Arrascaeta penned a new deal with them until 2021 before the World Cup on the understanding he would be allowed to leave if the club receives a realistic offer.
Meanwhile, Benitez has begun his summer shopping by taking Ki Sung-yueng on a free transfer from Swansea and Chelsea's Kenedy on loan for the season.
The 22-year-old winger spent half of last season at St James' Park, scoring two goals in 13 games.