Newcastle are linked with two Premier League strikers and a Manchester United target as the consider the prospect of life after Alexander Isak…
With so much transfer talk doing the rounds, we’re here through the summer to sift through the bullsh*t and highlight the whispers that might have some substance.
Each day we’re ranking the top 20 rumours involving Premier League clubs, the higher the link, the more likely we feel they are to become done deals.
So we start with the tittle-tattle…
20) Emi Martinez – Aston Villa to Manchester United
United have been heavily linked with the Villa keeper, but their intent was limited to a pitiful loan offer which the Villans, understandably, laughed off. Reports in Argentina suggest that’s as far as United will go, and Martinez will instead consider cashing in over in Saudi.
19) 🔽 Morgan Gibbs-White – Nottingham Forest to Tottenham
Oh, Spurs. Got the here we go treatment from Romano before Forest pulled the plug and threatened legal action against Spurs for knowing the player’s release clause, and now according to Ornstein is all set for a new deal at his current club. A deal that presumably includes an even more super secret release clause that specifically states Spurs can’t activate it.
18) Malick Fofana – Lyon to Everton
Fabrizio says ‘advanced talks’ but Everton making a high-profile attempt to sign a Liverpool target just feels like something destined to end in pain just because that’s the way of the world.
17) Luke Shaw – Manchester United to Saudi
This hasn’t reached the stage yet of a suitor being named but reports suggest Shaw has seen the writing on the wall for his United career and he’s willing to make the best of it by taking the Saudi coin. Sadly, Ruben Amorim will have taken the view that Shaw’s fitness cannot be relied upon, and he is now well-stocked for left wing-backs. There is no urgency here – it could be one for January.
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16) Javi Guerra – Valencia to Manchester United
United are ready to get a deal done quickly, apparently, at around £20million for the Spain Under-21 midfielder who has just rejected Valencia’s latest offer of a contract renewal. Reports suggest Guerra is hoping for a better offer from Valencia so this could simply be a case of his representatives using United and the oldest trick in the agents’ book.
15) Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig to Manchester United
Sesko seemed to be going nowhere while Leipzig were demanding in excess of £75million but in news sure to grind Arsenal’s gears, reports in Germany suggest that demand could have fallen to £59million, which would make the Slovenian much more appealing to United.
14) Ollie Watkins – Aston Villa to Manchester United
No sooner had we reports of renewed interest from United in Watkins did we have the rebuttal from Villa. The England striker is considered by the Villans as ‘not for sale’. Which is what anyone looking to sell for top dollar would say at first. Watkins is valued at £60million by Villa. United would doubtless seek to negotiate down from there but we’re struggling to see where the two clubs find common ground here if this was a deal done in isolation.
13) 🔽 Yoane Wissa – Brentford to Newcastle
Newcastle are having a ‘mare of a summer, but some rare good news came in the form of Wissa’s desire to move to St James’ Park. However, and quite reasonably, we’ll add, Brentford are intent on keeping the forward having already lost their manager, captain and best player this summer. If Newcastle really want Wissa, they’ll have to pay over £50m for a player who was reportedly told last summer that he could leave for £26m at the end of 2024/25, prompting him to go on strike.
12) Alejandro Garnacho – Manchester United to Aston Villa
Garnacho wants to stay in the Premier League and play in the Champions League, reaffirming somewhat that the winger has a higher opinion of himself than most others do. Chelsea and Spurs have been linked but it has always been tentative. The noise has been building around Villa’s interest in Garnacho, but like United’s view on Watkins, they can’t pay the amount requested. With all the accounting sorcery prompted by PSR, we’re sure there’s a workaround here that leaves everyone happy.
11) 🆕 Nicolas Jackson – Chelsea to Newcastle
The unfortunate Wissa news means Newcastle are now looking at Chelsea striker Jackson, who can leave this summer after the additions of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. The Toon Army won’t be thrilled, but 24 goals and 10 assists in 65 Premier League matches isn’t *that* bad. Nothing on Isak, mind…
10) 🆕 Antony – Manchester United to Saudi
Real Betis have been teasing United all summer, seemingly with no intention of buying Antony. Atletico are also credited with an interest but they are no more likely to pay up than Betis. Fortunately for United, there is interest from ‘two of the Saudi Pro League’s top clubs’, according to Sky Sports. Which feels like the only way the Red Devils might get close to the fee they were hoping for.
9) Joao Palhinha – Bayern Munich to Tottenham
Spurs are looking for a new no.6 and while Conor Gallagher has been mentioned, there is greater clamour around Palhinha, who has been told he can leave Bayern after one season. Bayern want £30million; Spurs are chasing a discount. If they get one, and Palhinha still has some of the Fulham magic left, it would be a snip.
8) Jadon Sancho – Manchester United to Juventus
It was reported ages ago that agreements had been reached between the clubs and the player, but still we wait. The reason, we suspect, is Juve stalling for time. They do need to sell, but they also know there is no other market for Sancho, If they sit tight, United will grow more desperate, as might the player, and better terms will almost certainly become available. Sancho’s agent has been in Turin this week to attempt to speed things along.
7) Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig to Newcastle
If Newcastle get a massive fee for Isak, you can bet any discount Leipzig were offering on Sesko will be voided. Let’s say the Toon get £120million for Isak and they spend £75million on Sesko and cover the Anthony Elanga fee. Is that so terrible? Regardless, Newcastle’s interest in Sesko goes back a year and he is the first on their list should Isak get his wish.
6) 🔼 Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace to Arsenal
Eze is keen on the prospect of moving to the Emirates and some reports suggest a deal is now down to the finer details of how the fee to activate his release clause is paid. Viktor Gyokeres is in London, which means Arsenal can ramp up their pursuit of the Palace star, which they intend to do…
5) Luis Diaz – Liverpool to Bayern Munich
Bayern made their move for Diaz, who wants to make a move of his own. But Liverpool wouldn’t entertain the bid of £58.6million, with the Reds insisting they want to keep the Colombian, though £87million might twist their arm. There seems to be an openness from all sides to a deal, with Diaz keen to make it happen. Bayern will return with an improved offer but the player may have to do his bit too since Liverpool are insistent on doing it their way. The latest: the two clubs are ‘in dialogue’, while Diaz was left out of Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s pre-season friendly defeat to Milan.
4) 🔼 Xavi Simons – RB Leipzig to Chelsea
A Chelsea move appeals to Simons and the Blues are keen to make it happen. But first they need to raise some cash and even then, they will look for a hefty discount on the £56million RB Leipzig are demanding for the Arsenal target.
3)🔼Alexander Isak – Newcastle to Liverpool
We didn’t think this done just because Newcastle had told Liverpool that Isak was not for sale. Their stance hasn’t changed – but everything else has after Isak agitated for a move. If only he had done it sooner, Liverpool might not have spent the money on Hugo Ekitike, who might have filled the Isak void at Newcastle. Instead, the expectation is the pair will team up at Anfield. It won’t happen quick – Newcastle are determined to dig in and their worst-case scenario has to involve a British transfer record fee – but it’ll probably happen.
READ MORE: Isak crashes into best available strikers ranking as Liverpool eye £130m Newcastle rebel
2)🔼 Jorrel Hato – Ajax to Chelsea
The Netherlands defender’s agent is quite open about talks that have taken place with Chelsea, who have also been in touch with Ajax. Hato has been linked with Liverpool, Arsenal and Real Madrid, but he’s apparently already ‘said yes’ to Chelsea, who seem intent on getting to the teenager first. Hato was left out of the Ajax squad for Thursday night’s friendly against Celtic in Como.
1) 🔼James Trafford – Burnley to Manchester City
Poor Newcastle. They are having a shocker, and City haven’t helped. Newcastle took forever to finally agree a deal with Burnley for the England goalkeeper, only for City to exercise their option to match any offer. Trafford will re-join City for £27million to compete with Ederson. Who, no doubt, is delighted at the prospect.