Newcastle confirm agreement to sign World Cup striker

Newcastle United have confirmed via their official website that they have agreed a deal to sign Japanese striker Yoshinori Muto from Mainz.

The 26-year-old has put pen to paper after a fee was reached for his sale from the Bundesliga outfit, and the move is now subject to the forward securing a work permit to play in the Premier League.

The hearing to determine whether the striker can make the move will not take place until later next week but a deal is expected to go through for a player that has represented his national side 25 times.

The latest of those caps came at the World Cup in Russia, although the forward only started the defeat to Poland over the summer.

Since making the move to Germany in 2015, Muto has struggled to hold down a regular starting berth at Mainz, though his strike rate is relatively strong.

Last season was his best in terms of both minutes played and goals scored (eight) and since moving to the club the Japan international has scored 20 league goals, hitting the net every 221 minutes on average.

His arrival could pave the way for the likes of Dwight Gayle and Aleksandr Mitrovic to leave the club, with Rafa Benitez still known to be interested in a move for Salomon Rondon.