Newcastle, Southampton and West Ham target Taiwo Awoniyi ‘will cost at least £21m’

Newcastle United ‘will have to pay £21million to sign ex-Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi’ this summer after Union Berlin set their price.

West Ham and Southampton have also been linked with the Nigeria international, 24, who has scored 12 goals in 25 Bundesliga games for Union this season.

Liverpool, who sold Awoniyi to Union last summer following a season on loan there, inserted a clause in the deal that gives them 10 per cent of his next transfer fee.

The Nigeria international has scored 12 Bundesliga goals for the Berlin-based club this season

According to German newspaper Bild, Union have noted the interest from various Premier League clubs and want at least £21m for the player.

Originally, Union wanted something closer to the £25m mark but have concluded this won’t be realistic.

Awoniyi signed for Liverpool in August 2015 but didn’t make a first team appearance and instead went on seven loan spells in Germany, Holland and Belgium.

The last of those, at Union in 2020-21, led to a £6.5m transfer to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.

Awoniyi in training with Naby Keita (left) and Sadio Mane (right) during his Liverpool days

The 24-year-old has enjoyed another very good season with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga

His goals have helped propel Union to another successful season in the Bundesliga, having only achieved promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 2019.

Last season, they qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing in seventh and that is their current position as they push for another European qualification.

Awoniyi scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Cologne last weekend and Union are due to play RB Leipzig in the German Cup semi-finals later this month.