Premier League rivals Newcastle United and West Ham are battling to sign Daniil Fomin from Dynamo Moscow in the January transfer window, according to Sport Express.

The fact that Fomin has scored more goals from his deep midfield role than the Newcastle player this season highlights not only Eddie Howe’s lack of top-flight in the squad, but also the impressive track record of the Russian international in the final third.

Fomin has found the net seven times in 19 games in 2021/22. Even Callum Wilson hasn’t scored that many.

In fact, he’s already equaled last season’s tally with half the campaign remaining.

No wonder Fomin is starting to turn heads outside of Russia.

According to Sport Express, Newcastle are interested. So has a West Ham side who have been linked with Fomin’s international team-mate Aleksander Golovin since the start of the year.

Will Daniil Fomin join Newcastle or West Ham?

Like Golovin, Fomin won’t come cheap.

The 24-year-old only joined Dynamo Moscow from FC Ufa in August 2020. He still has three and a half years left on his contract.

Then again, Newcastle are hardly short of cash these days. Their Saudi billionaire owners are richer than King Croesus after winning the lottery.

The Magpies have already bought Kieran Trippier for £12m. Burnley’s Chris Wood is following in his footsteps.

And, if their continued pursuit of Sven Botman, Benoit Badiashile and Amadou Haidara is anything to go by, Newcastle would have few qualms about paying a club record fee.

Especially with their Premier League status on the line.

Fomin is one of several versatile midfielders linked with a move to St James’ Park.

What sets Fomin apart from Ibrahim Sangare and Florian Grillitsch, however, is his impressive goalscoring record.

Since Gini Wijnaldum, Newcastle haven’t boasted a true goalscoring midfielder in their ranks.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano says West Ham are also interested in £30m star, Newcastle in talks