Newcastle United Want To Sign This 18-Year-Old Striker: Will He Be A Good Choice For The Magpies? | OneFootball

Newcastle United are keeping a close eye on Angers SCO forward Sidiki Chérif, as per a report by Journalist Pete O’Rourke. Several English clubs, including Fulham and Sunderland, admire the 18-year-old after his standout displays in Ligue 1. Since joining Angers’ senior side last year, he has developed steadily and now looks ready to take the next step.

Newcastle United are competing hard for Angers SCO forward Sidiki Chérif

Chérif’s rise has been rapid. He moved up from the youth team in the summer of 2023 and caught attention with his sharp movement and composed finishing. This season, the Frenchman has already scored in three of his last five matches, finding the net against AS Monaco and Marseille. Those goals boosted his reputation in France and drew scouts from across Europe.

He mainly operates through the middle but is just as comfortable playing on either wing, giving any side that signs him more attacking options. Newcastle view Chérif as a player for the future rather than an immediate solution, though the competition remains strong.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe smiles during training ahead of their UEFA Champions League match against Athletic Club at Newcastle United Training Centre on November 04, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Fulham and Sunderland continue to monitor him closely, knowing his value could rise quickly if he keeps this level. The coming months will show whether Chérif continues his progress in France or makes the leap to the Premier League. Meanwhile, the Magpies also reportedly want to keep Joelinton at the club.

Will he be the right choice?

Sidiki Chérif carries promise, but Newcastle United can’t count on him to replace Alexander Isak just yet. The Magpies need a striker who delivers goals from the very start, and Chérif still looks a few seasons short of that level.

His pace and movement are his positive traits, but his inexperience in a league as intense as the Premier League makes him a risky choice. The French striker’s three goals in Ligue 1 this season have shown some progress, but they fail to prove he’s ready for a top-six role. Newcastle should ease him in behind established forwards before handing him the spotlight.