Newcastle ready to swoop for £8million rated Iceland striker Vidar Orn Kjartansson

NEWCASTLE are ready to swoop for Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Vidar Orn Kjartansson.

The Daily Star report the Premier League side have been monitoring the Icelandic forward since he scored the only goal in the Israeli side’s Europa League win against Rheindorf Altach.

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Kjartansson is valued at £8million and was also on target last Thursday in the home leg as Maccabi Tel Aviv progressed to group stage of the Europa League.

The 27-year-old’s goal-scoring exploits have attracted the interest of other Premier League teams, as well as clubs from the Championship.

He was top scorer in Israel last season with 15 league goals and is likely to jump at the chance to play in the Premier League.

Toon boss Rafa Benitez has been moaning all summer about the recruitment at St James’ Park and is still on the hunt for additions before Thursday’s deadline.

The Magpies had not found the net in the league until Saturday’s home win against West Ham.

Benitez will have been boosted by new striker Joselu scoring his first goal since his £5m move from Stoke this month.

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Big striker Alexsandar Mitrovic was also on target-but could be in hot water with the FA following a clash with Hammers playmaker Manuel Lanzini missed by the officials.

Kjartansson had a trial with Celtic four years ago, but moved to Norway instead where he was top scorer in the league with Valerenga, with 25 goals in 29 games.

He joined Maccabi after spells in China with Jiangsu Guoxin-Sainty and Swedish side Malmo.

The Israeli outfit have been playing competitive football since July - so in terms of fitness, Benitez will see a player hit the ground running if he moves to Tyneside.

In order to raise much needed funds, striker Dwight Gayle could be sacrificed in order to bag Kjartansson.

Gayle joined the Toon from Crystal Palace last summer and failed to make the bench for Saturday's win against the Hammers.

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