The Athletic's Chris Waugh has said that Newcastle United could look to sign a 'junior' striker in the remaining weeks of the transfer window.

The lowdown

Newcastle made their first signing of the summer just two days before their season opener against West Ham, capturing former loanee Joe Willock for a fee in excess of £20m (via BBC Sport).

This morning they have been linked with a move for Schalke 04's 20-year-old frontman Matthew Hoppe. The player's agents are due to fly to the UK for talks with interested parties, and the cash-strapped German club may be forced to sell.

Callum Wilson, who scored in the defeat against the Hammers, is currently supported by Joelinton and Dwight Gayle. Two other strikers - Yoshinori Muto and Andy Carroll - have left the club on free transfers this summer.

The latest

In a Q&A for The Athletic, Waugh was asked by a supporter whether Newcastle are looking to bolster their striking ranks. He replied that a centre-back and a midfielder, 'potentially a no 6 type', are currently the 'priorities'.

The journalist added that a senior striker 'isn't necessarily near the top' of the Magpies' list, but a 'more junior type may arrive' before the end of the month.

The verdict

At 20, Hoppe may well fit the 'junior' bill, and while some Newcastle fans might find it hard to believe the club will make three further signings with a 'meagre' transfer budget, a 'financially stricken' Schalke may have to sell on the cheap.

Beyond that, the Magpies have yet to use either of their available domestic loan slots, so they may look towards young Premier League talents with limited short-term prospects.

There are also whispers that the deal for Willock was independently-funded, so the club's budget may still be intact. Waugh's suggestion of a new centre-forward coming in could indeed bear fruit over the next couple of weeks.

In other news, does Joe Willock have a buyout clause?