NEWCASTLE UNITED have launched an £8m bid for hot Dutch prospect Luuk De Jong.

De Jong has been on the Magpies scouting radar all year and, following Holland's elimination from Euro 2012, a formal offer has been tabled for the striker.

The 21-year-old has attracted interest from a number of clubs around Europe - including Tottenham - but Newcastle have made the first big money move for his signature.

Twente, managed by former Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, know they need to raise around €10m this summer before they can enter the transfer market themselves.

And while Brazilian defender Douglas, who has also been watched by Newcastle, is likely to move on the sale of de Jong is likely to raise the most cash.

De Jong has also been linked with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund after scoring 39 goals in 76 matches for Twente, who have placed a valuation of around £13m on his head.

Newcastle's initial offer is considerably lower than that but Twente are considering the terms.

If a deal can be secured for de Jong then it is likely to cast further doubt on Demba Ba's future - even though manager Alan Pardew hinted yesterday that the Senegalese striker could yet stay.

Pardew has already secured the signature of French midfielder Romain Amalfitano, 22, this summer but has been keen to make further additions.

A new striker is high in his sights because of the uncertainty surrounding the future of Ba, while defensively he is also on the look out for one or two new faces.