Newcastle United, Stoke City interested in Yevhen Konoplyanka?

Newcastle United and Stoke City have reportedly joined the race to sign Ukrainian attacking midfielder Yevhen Konoplyanka this summer.

Konoplyanka will be available on a free transfer after he allowed his Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk contract to expire, and the 25-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

Despite being linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool over the past year, The Mirror claims that Newcastle and Stoke have both identified the Ukraine international as a key target.

The report suggests that talks with Stoke have stalled due to his £100k-a-week wage demands, but Newcastle are also unlikely to offer him a deal worth so much.

Konoplyanka scored eight goals in 39 appearances in his final season with Dnipro.