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Looking to hand Arne Slot his first Anfield arrival, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing a move to sign a midfielder who is yet to sign a new deal at his current club, allowing the Reds to potentially swoop in this summer.

Liverpool transfer news

Slot has officially been unveiled as the new Liverpool manager over a month after it was announced that he would be taking over from Jurgen Klopp. The Dutchman now has the task of assessing his current squad, before searching for potential reinforcements in pursuit of taking Liverpool from a third-place side back to the top of the Premier League in years to come.

Liverpool can unlock Trent in midfield with “unstoppable” £84m star

FSG are searching for a versatile wide forward to bolster Arne Slot’s first team.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 22, 2024

With Michael Edwards back in a more important role than ever and Richard Hughes entering as the new sporting director, the Reds aren't short on transfer experts, which has already seen the headlines dominated by potential incomings.

The likes of Arda Guler and Nico Williams have been among those linked with an Anfield switch this summer, having both enjoyed solid Euro 2024 campaigns so far. But it remains to be seen just how willing the Reds are to spend big in the coming months. Instead, they could aim for bargain deals, starting with one particular midfielder.

According to Sport Italia, Liverpool are eyeing a move to sign Adrien Rabiot, who is yet to accept any of Juventus' new contract offers and looks increasingly likely to leave the Italian giants as a free agent this summer. In a bargain move for the Reds, they'd only be left paying the Frenchman's reported £146k-a-week salary without the need for a transfer fee.

As ever, though, the Premier League giants aren't alone in their interest, with Real Madrid also eyeing a potential move. In quite the trend in recent years, the Champions League winners could swoop in to deny Liverpool yet another transfer target.

"Extraordinary" Rabiot would unleash Mac Allister

Whilst Wataru Endo surprised many by stepping up to become an important part of Klopp's side last season, he remains the only player other than Alexis Mac Allister who can truly play in the defensive midfield role. And the last thing that Slot should want is to limit Mac Allister in such a role. Instead, the focus should be on finding another option, which is where Rabiot could come in.

Where Endo is more limited on the ball, Rabiot thrived last season all whilst maintaining his responsibilities away from possession. A player who's won both Serie A and Ligue 1 titles, among several other honours, the midfielder could be the final piece needed for Liverpool's midfield rebuild.

Rabiot has earned plenty of praise during his time at Juventus, including from the iconic David Trezeguet, who told Football Italia via Juve FC: “We are talking about a problem for Juventus because in Italy he may have been targeted for criticism, but in France it’s completely different. He is world class, an extraordinary player. Now he will evaluate his options and will go back to being the important player he always was.”

The Dutchman has finally got his marching orders, but the long delay has already threatened to derail the Red Devils' season

As anyone who has been in a doomed relationship will be able to tell you, once you have start to have doubts, it's best to end it there and then. And that is what Manchester United should have done with Erik ten Hag. Instead, they stalled on the biggest decision affecting the club until they were left with no choice after the infuriating defeat by West Ham. Rather than sacking the Dutchman in May after he had presided over the team's worst season in Premier League history, they decided to wait until Monday, leaving them scrambling around to find a permanent successor before the crunch Premier League game against Chelsea on Sunday.

There were numerous points last season when, in any other circumstances, the manager would have been sacked. Like in September 2023, when United were beaten at home by Brighton and then Crystal Palace. Or in October, after successive 3-0 home defeats by Manchester City and Newcastle. Or perhaps in December, when they were humiliated 3-0 by Bournemouth and exited the Champions League at the group stage.

Circumstances were on Ten Hag's side in each of those occasions, though, as the club was in ownership limbo while Sir Jim Ratcliffe negotiated the purchase of his minority stake, which was announced on Christmas Eve and then fully approved in February. United's results slowly picked up at that point, but they unravelled again towards the end of the season, culminating in the crushing 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace.

That was when Ratcliffe and his INEOS colleagues began to seriously consider changing manager, reaching out to Kieran McKenna, Thomas Frank and Thomas Tuchel. But, influenced by United's shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City, they bottled it, giving Ten Hag another opportunity to put things right and triggering the one-year extension in his contract.

Not wanting to admit to their mistake was clearly a big factor in United's hierarchy showing more patience with Ten Hag after the dreadful 3-0 defeats at home to Liverpool and then to Tottenham to start the current campaign. The conclusion they have since come to is the right one, and you could say it's better late than never. But they have paid a heavy price for their indecision.

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  Throwing £7m away

  United's dithering has already cost them a hefty amount in extra compensation to Ten Hag compared to if they had parted ways with him in the summer. It was reported last May that sacking the Dutchman, who had one year left on his contract at the time, would have cost around £10 million (£13m). Triggering the one-year extension and giving him a contract until June 2026, therefore, would likely raise that figure to around £17m ($22m). And that is before you consider the amount if will cost to hire a new manager, especially one who is already employed elsewhere.

  United have effectively thrown away £7m ($9m) by stalling for four months on a decision that they should have taken over the summer. That might not seem like a lot given United made £662m ($860m) in revenue according to their last accounts, but it is a considerable amount in the context of the brutal cost-cutting regime Ratcliffe has implemented since taking the reins of the club's football operation.

  The billionaire has made 250 members of staff redundant and even cut ties with Sir Alex Ferguson, the club's greatest manager of all time and the reason why United are the global phenomenon they are today. The £7m they have parted with by giving Ten Hag that short-lived new contract could have paid the salaries of scores of those loyal employees. It also eats up a sizeable portion of the £30m ($39m) the club said it would save over two years by making those redundancies.

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  £95m on Ten Hag choices

  The £7m, however, pales in comparison to the amount of money United spent last summer on players that Ten Hag clearly pushed to sign. The club shelled out £178m ($231m) in the last transfer window on five new players, and while Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro appear to have been chosen by sporting director Dan Ashworth, it is reasonable to suggest that the manager asked to sign Noussair Mazraoui and Matthjis de Ligt, who both played under him at Ajax, as well as his fellow Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee. The trio cost a combined £95m ($123m).

  Zirkzee has scored just one goal since his £36m ($46m) move from Bologna, and although he set up Casemiro's goal against West Ham on Sunday, he has often looked clumsy and slow when he has played. De Ligt and Mazraoui, meanwhile, have been inconsistent, and it is hard to imagine that they would have been signed had a different manager been in place over the summer.

  The former Ajax duo's arrival meant that United spent £250m ($324m) on players Ten Hag had previously worked with at the Amsterdam giants. Only Andre Onana (admittedly after a very tough start) and Lisandro Martinez have been successes, with Antony looking like one of the worst signings in Premier League history.

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  Letting top candidates slip away

  United's dilly-dallying over Ten Hag has also left them with fewer obvious successors than if they had pulled the trigger in June. Mauricio Pochettino, who was greatly admired by Ferguson and was Ten Hag's main rival for the Old Trafford dugout in 2022, is now the manager of the United States. Tuchel, who held advanced talks with the club over the summer, is now the England head coach. Roberto De Zerbi was on the market over the summer but has since taken charge of Marseille.

  Julian Nagelsmann is also out of the question after renewing his contract with Germany back in April, when United should have been making contingency plans for Ten Hag's successor. Xavi Hernandez has effectively ruled himself out of the running for the now vacant job as he does not want to take on a new role until next season. Gareth Southgate also recently said he wants to take an extended break from management after leaving the England job in the summer.

  Graham Potter and Edin Terzic lead a now uninspiring list of managers who are currently out of work and could realistically get the job. Prising a highly-rated manager who is currently employed, such as Ruben Amorim or Thomas Frank, will be much harder to pull off at this stage of the season as their clubs would find it much harder to find a replacement and would therefore charge far more in compensation.

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  Serious questions

  Sacking Ten Hag four months into the season rather than last June looks all the more remarkable given that United made high-profile executive appointments just weeks after they had decided to stick with the manager. Omar Berrada began work as the club's new chief executive in July, around the same time that Ashworth started as sporting director.

  Ashworth and Berrada sought to distance themselves from the call to keep Ten Hag when they spoke to the media before the Liverpool game in September as they were still on gardening leave from their previous roles at Manchester City and Newcastle, respectively. Berrada said: "In terms of the contract, that was a decision that was taken prior to both of our arrivals. But we’re very happy with that decision. Erik has our full backing and we have worked very closely together in this transfer window. We’re going to continue working very closely with him to help him get the best results out of the team."

  The pair's words ring hollow now after they chose to sack Ten Hag, and the unusual timing of their arrival begs the question: why could Ratcliffe and INEOS director Sir Dave Brailsford not have delayed the decision on the Dutchman until they began work? And why did they deem it necessary to extend Ten Hag's contract when he had another year left anyway?

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is reportedly doing his best to bring a former player to Selhurst Park this summer – one he has used in various positions.

Crystal Palace transfer news

The Eagles finished last season as one of the most in-form Premier League teams, only dropping two points in their final seven matches, picking up respective 4-0 and 5-0 wins over Manchester United and Aston Villa in the process.

For that reason, there is understandable positivity heading into the 2024/25 campaign, even if key players are being linked with moves away as Glasner continues to work his magic. New signings are needed to take Palace in a positive direction, and fresh rumours continue to emerge.

Jobe Bellingham may be overshadowed by his older brother, but he is an extremely exciting player in his own right and has been backed to join Palace from Sunderland, for whom he scored seven goals in the Championship last season.

Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe has also emerged as an exciting transfer target for the Eagles, with the Englishman potentially in need of a new challenge after falling down the pecking order at the Emirates. If he stays put in north London, he may have to accept playing second fiddle to the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.

Glasner wants former player at Crystal Palace

According to TuttoMercatoWeb (via Sport Witness), Glasner wants to bring Juventus' Filip Kostic to Crystal Palace this summer, with the Eagles boss personally pushing to get his man.

The 31-year-old played under him at Eintracht Frankfurt between 2021 and 2023, where he was used as a left wing-back and left-sided attacking player.

The £52,000-a-week Kostic has the potential to be an excellent signing for Palace this summer, possessing so much experience at a high level down the years.

The versatile ace has racked up 64 caps for Serbia and won the Europa League alongside Glasner in 2022, highlighting his pedigree, while he featured for 43 minutes of his country's 1-0 defeat to England at Euro 2024 earlier this month. Compatriot Aleksandar Mitrovic has heaped praise on his quality as a player, claiming he is even better than Angel Di Maria:

"Di Maria is a great champion, but Kostic is my favourite winger at Juventus. Filip is one of the best wingers I’ve played with. If you put him in a position that exploits his potential, he repays you with crosses and assists. I’m not just saying it out of friendship, but from experience. I scored several goals thanks to Kostic."

At 31, Kostic isn't getting any younger, and there can be a risk element in bringing ageing players to the fast and frenetic Premier League, but the fact that Glasner knows him so well as a footballer can only bode well.

The Serb would add depth and experience to a squad that has some young talent in it, helping Palace become even more of a force next season in the process.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has shed light on the "worst mistake" he could have made during his career as a coach.

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• Ancelotti admits his "worst mistake"
• Wanted a pay rise at Madrid in 2014
• Was sacked in 2015 before returning in 2021

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Carlo Ancelotti has revealed one of the main reasons why he was sacked from Real Madrid during his first stint at the club in 2015. Ancelotti led Madrid to La Decima, their 10th Champions League victory, in 2014, before being shown the exit door one year later after failing to win major silverware.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ancelotti started his coaching career with Italian side Reggiana in 1995 and has won as many as 30 titles during his illustrious career as manager, with 14 of those 30 titles coming during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, famously helping Los Blancos to 'La Decima' in his debut season in 2013-14, before adding two more Champions Leagues and as many league titles since returning to the dugout in 2021.

  Despite how positive the former Milan manager's stints at Madrid have been, there have been moments when things have not gone as planned and he has now revealed one of his greatest errors throughout his coaching career.

• WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

  “It’s impossible to make only good decisions over thirty years,” Ancelotti explained to France Football.

  “For example, I made a mistake here in Madrid after my first year. I was very close to extending my contract, and the club wanted to keep me, but I pushed too hard to increase my salary, and they backed off. It was a mistake, the worst I could have made, but it allowed me to learn.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANCELOTTI?

  Real Madrid haven't had the best of starts to this campaign, losing two of their first four games in the Champions League group stage. They also find themselves six points adrift of Barcelona at the top of the LaLiga table, albeit with a game in hand.

  Ancelotti will be determined to use Madrid's recent 4-0 win over Osasuna as a springboard to turn the season around, starting first with a visit to Leganes on November 24, just after the international break. That game provides the former PSG manager to cut Barca's lead in the league to three points.

Former Birmingham boss Gary Rowett has explained why NFL legend Tom Brady does not need to “know about football” in order to assist the Blues.

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• NFL icon an investor at St Andrew's
• Proven winner on hand to offer advice
• Blues battling with Wrexham in League One

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Seven-time Super Bowl winner Brady become a surprising investor at St Andrew’s when Tom Wagner’s Knighthead Capital Management took control of the West Midlands outfit in 2023. The legendary New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback was appointed as chairman of the advisory board.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  His first season being associated with Birmingham did not play out as planned, with a failed gamble on Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney as head coach contributing to relegation into League One being suffered. Rowett was at the helm when a tumble into the third tier was confirmed, as he returned to the dugout on an interim basis as the club’s fourth manager of the campaign.

• WHAT ROWETT SAID

  Questions have been asked of what Brady is bringing to the table, as his expertise lies in a different form of football, but Rowett has told the podcast about his dealings with the Blues’ board: “We sat in two or three Zooms with the owner [Wagner], Tom Brady, not always about football. I think everyone has this misconception.

  “I remember speaking to a few of the pundits on Sky. They were saying, ‘what does Tom Brady know about football?’ But it wasn’t about that, it was about leadership, about high performance. There’s always something you can draw from someone who has been an absolute unicorn athlete, an outlier in his sport. It was a fascinating experience.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Rowett did not always agree with every decision that Brady and Co were making, as ambitious talk of a new stadium being built broke as the club struggled in the Championship, but he added on the long-term ambition of those at the helm: “Obviously there was a job to do but the experience of working with Tom Wagner, Tom Brady, all those guys, was fascinating. It was a snippet of where football’s going to go for certain clubs.

  “I’m sure if you spoke to people like Tom Wagner, midway through a relegation battle, they’re talking about plans for a new stadium. This is the bigger picture and what the owners want to do. I felt as a manager sometimes that it perhaps wasn’t the right timing to be discussing that, when you’re trying to win games of football and the pressure’s on. But it felt like something was building. Regardless of the team going into League One, it felt like the club was now on the up with good owners with a clear vision and a clear ambition.”

Manchester City could now reportedly look to sign a player Pep Guardiola thinks is "incredible", changing their stance on him in the process.

Man City transfer news

The Premier League champions continue to be linked with elite-level players in the summer transfer window, as they look to make their squad even more formidable. Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes is one such figure, with the Brazilian potentially eyeing an exit from St James' Park, coming in as a great midfield option.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is also reportedly wanted by City ahead of the 2024/25 season, being looked at as a possible upgrade on Jack Grealish, who endured a disappointing campaign last time around, failing to make England's Euro 2024 squad. The Eagles ace scored 11 goals in the league last term, also bagging four assists.

The Cityzens are believed to have made concrete moves to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte, too, with the Uruguayan a wanted man this summer. Manchester United are also in the mix, but Guardiola would no doubt like to think a switch to the Etihad would appeal more.

Then there's Anthony Gordon, who is another Newcastle player who could be looking for a fresh challenge, with City eyeing up the England international as they look to strengthen their wide options. The boyhood Liverpool supporter is also wanted by the Reds, though.

Man City could sign player Pep thinks is "incredible"

According to a fresh claim from Give Me Sport, Manchester City could look to sign Dani Olmo this summer, making a U-turn in the process.

It is stated that the reigning Premier League winners "could be sparked into life and reignite their interest in Olmo if Manchester United lodge a bid", despite them "deciding to rule themselves out of the running for the Leipzig talisman's signature at this stage".

Olmo's stock has risen greatly in recent weeks, following an excellent Euro 2024 campaign with Spain, with the 26-year-old proving to be one of the standout players of the tournament. He has scored three times in Germany, meaning he shares the Golden Boot heading into Sunday's final against England, and he has also assisted twice for good measure.

There is also the small matter of Guardiola speaking of his admiration for the attacking midfielder back in 2019, with City's legendary boss saying: "He's a top player – he has a bright future, of course. His performance today shows it. He is an incredible player and I am pretty sure he is able to play in the strong leagues in Europe."

Man City believe they can sign PL star who's better than Nunes for £80m

The Cityzens are reportedly interested in a swoop for the “special” midfielder.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 12, 2024

The £152,000-a-week Olmo may feel that this summer is the perfect time to leave RB Leipzig, considering he has arguably never been rated more highly in his career, and his quality, end product and work ethic could make him a brilliant addition at the Etihad for a number of years.

Chelsea finished the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with five straight victories, but Mauricio Pochettino was still dismissed at the end of the term and Enzo Maresca, viewed as the club's 'project manager', has been appointed.

Whether Todd Boehly and Co were correct to part ways with the Argentinian tactician is uncertain, but the jury will not be called to question until Maresca's squad commence their campaign.

The Blues, as ever, have been active in the transfer market this summer, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall signed from Leicester City for £30m and Tosin Adarabioyo welcomed on a free transfer, along with a host of younger signings to continue to reinforce Stamford Bridge's foundations.

It's common knowledge that Chelsea are in the market for a new centre-forward, and amid several months of scouring the market, there's an update arriving for one of the outfit's lesser-known targets.

Chelsea eyeing new striker

As per journalist Ben Jacobs, Chelsea are still hoping to sign Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion this summer despite seeing multiple bids rejected already, suggesting that another approach could well be in store.

Whether the Londoners would be willing to meet Atleti's €70m (£58m) demands is unclear, but the 20-year-old seemingly has the world at his feet and could bloom into one of the Premier League's finest forwards.

What Samu Omorodion would bring to Chelsea

Chelsea have been desperately seeking a new centre-forward this summer, with Aston Villa's rising phenom Jhon Duran of a vested interest back in June before talks simmered down and West Ham United moved ahead in the race.

Duran is similar to Omorodian in that both are hulking forwards with top strength and clinical attacking games, but Omorodian has already proved himself as a first-team regular in a top-five European league, scoring nine goals from only 22 starting appearances on loan with Alaves in La Liga last season, his very first taste of sustained senior action.

Duran, conversely, was consigned to a bit-part role with Aston Villa last season, scoring eight goals across all competitions but also only being entrusted with ten starting berths.

Of course, this makes a telling comment on the Colombian's prolificness, but it also suggests that he is not ready for a starring position at the front of a team such as Chelsea.

As The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell ponders over the good call to sever ties with Duran at Villa Park, so too have Chelsea concluded that a raw talent with an issue of temperament might prove to be more trouble than he's worth if brought to west London for a big fee.

Omorodion outscored the Lions striker, and while he did play more football, nine goals from 22 starts is hardly a bad tally for a player just starting their career. With a little fine-tuning, he could blossom into an extraordinary attacking outlet.

Speaking of Omorodion's qualities, Alaves head coach Luis Garcia said: “He’s a player with a privileged physique, imposing just looking at him. Big, strong, fast, wants to learn and improve. His movement into space is very good, and he wins a lot of duels. He needs to demand more of himself to become a really top player.”

It's understandable that Omorodion is not yet the finished package, but it's exciting to think that he has already proven himself a high-level goalscorer, with analyst Ben Mattinson already claiming that he is capable of scoring an "[Erling] Haaland-esque goal".

Haaland is of course the gold standard when it comes to goalscoring in the Premier League, having scored 63 goals and added 13 assists across 66 outings in the English top flight.

The Manchester City goal machine is one of Omorodion's most comparable players, as per FBref's statistical ranking, with both adept in using their pace and power to terrorise opponents and burst into space.

Let's not forget that this time 15 months ago, Omorodion was an 18-year-old hopeful without a senior showing to his name. As far as debut campaigns go, he didn't do half bad.

Chelsea will need to weigh up whether they have the requisite firepower to allow the Spaniard to seamlessly integrate and polish his instincts to a fine point, but if so, there's no reason why Omorodion shouldn't be signed, for he could become the 'Haaland-esque' phenomenon that the Blues need at Stamford Bridge.

Imagine him & Palmer: Chelsea can land £152k-p/w ace who's like Bellingham

The star has caught the attention of multiple sides across Europe this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 27, 2024

Nicolas Jackson reportedly tells people he is a "nobody" in relation to Chelsea "legend" Didier Drogba as the striker is frustrated by comparisons.

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• Jackson gradually finding his feet at Chelsea
• Has seven goals in 12 Premier League appearances
• Brushed aside comparisons with Drogba

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jackson’s debut season with Chelsea was marked by criticism, even though he managed to net 17 goals. Reflecting on that period, the Senegalese forward admitted dissatisfaction with his own performances. However, after scoring seven goals and assisting three more in 12 league appearances this campaign, the Senegalese has often been compared to Drogba.

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  The comparison between Jackson and Drogba stems from several parallels. Both are African strikers who wore the No. 15 jersey during their early days at Stamford Bridge. However, Jackson has expressed frustration over the frequent comparisons. In a candid statement in his close quarters, he referred to Drogba as a "legend" while calling himself a "nobody" still striving to prove his worth, as revealed by . Interestingly, Jackson’s goal tally already surpasses Drogba’s record from their respective first 57 games, with 24 goals compared to Drogba's 23.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has been a key supporter of Jackson’s development. During his interview for the Chelsea managerial role, Maresca reportedly expressed his admiration for the squad, particularly Jackson’s potential. He convinced Chelsea’s sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, that the team did not need another striker despite discussions about signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. And Maresca’s confidence in Jackson as the leading man has been validated by the forward’s consistent performances.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JACKSON?

  Statistically, Jackson stands tall among the league's top scorers. Only Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins have recorded more non-penalty goals since the start of last season. As Chelsea prepare to face Aston Villa in their next Premier League fixture, Jackson will undoubtedly aim to add to his goal tally.

Newcastle United are now in "touching distance" of completing the signing of an "outstanding" player this summer, in an exciting new transfer update.

Newcastle want new centre-backs

The Magpies will still want to bring in fresh faces to boost their squad between now and the end of this month, with centre-back continuing to be a primary area of focus. Marc Guehi is considered a main option in that position, as he looks to make a big move from Crystal Palace, and an offer has been submitted for the 24-year-old's services.

That being said, the England international isn't the only defender being linked with a switch to Newcastle in the near future, with Toulouse ace Logan Costa considered a cheaper alternative to the Palace man. At 23, he is a year younger and should only improve for the foreseeable future.

Then there's Liverpool's Joe Gomez, who has been backed to seal a move away from Anfield this summer, having found himself down the centre-back pecking order. While that was the case under Jurgen Klopp at the end of his time as manager, it looks as though the 27-year-old will stay put, suggesting that Arne Slot may be planning to give him more minutes in his preferred position.

In attack, reinforcements could also be needed, especially if Callum Wilson leaves St James' Park ahead of the new Premier League season, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Boulaye Dia have both emerged as options. The respective Everton and Salernitana stars could both represent younger additions than the current Magpies hero.

Newcastle within touching distance of new signing

According to Football Insider, Newcastle have "agreed personal terms" with Marc Guehi over a summer move to St James', with talks over a marquee signing believed to be at an "advanced" stage.

A report from The Guardian also adds that "although an agreement is still to be reached", and "the move remains in danger of being hijacked", the transfer is in "touching distance" of being completed.

At this point, it would be a huge surprise if the £2.6m-a-year-earning Guehi wasn't a Newcastle player come the end of the transfer window, with so much pointing towards a transfer being sealed.

Should that happen, Eddie Howe would acquire the signature of a top-quality defender with a big future in the game, being hailed as "outstanding" by Micah Richards and "excellent" by Alan Shearer during Euro 2024.

“I thought he was excellent in the first game," the legendary Magpies number nine said. "The second game… yeah, I think he was maybe the best of a bad bunch so yeah, particularly when there was so much talk about Harry Maguire not playing and England struggling in that position, I think he’s done really well, he can be pleased with himself."

Newcastle set to battle West Ham to pay £5m premium for new defender

The Magpies are still in the market for defensive reinforcements.

By
Tom Coates

Aug 5, 2024

Guehi could become Sven Botman's long-term partner at the heart of Newcastle's defence, once he returns from a knee injury, with neither Jamaal Lascelles nor Fabian Schar representing the future these days, and it could elevate Howe's team to another level.

Ansu Fati appears to be edging closer to making a return to full fitness, and eventually to action for Barcelona.

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• Fati took to social media to post an update
• Hinted at return to action
• Suffered an injury in November

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ansu Fati posted a promising update on his social media and hinted that he is inching closer to reaching full recovery and therefore, a comeback to Barcelona colours on the pitch. Fati has been working hard on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in mid-November.

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  Fati's rise to limelight in the 2019-20 season saw him earn bold praise as the successor to Lionel Messi. However, injuries have really hampered any sort of progress and stymied his development from a prodigy with lethal quality into a world-beater.

  A long-term injury layoff between November 2020 to September 2021 started a tryst with injuries that seem to have carried over to the present day. He returned to Barcelona ahead of the season after spending a season-long loan at Brighton in the Premier League, but his return to Catalonia hasn't gone as planned.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Reports in the last few months have suggested that Fati could leave Barcelona in the January transfer window, with Sevilla reported to be among the clubs that are highly interested in acquiring the services of the forward.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Fati should return to action by Christmas, having made seven appearances for Barcelona this season, of which only one has come as a starter. Barca boss Hansi Flick did shower praise on Fati back in September, but it remains to be seen if the 22-year-old can work his way into the German manager's plans for the second half of the season.