Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley
Newcastle United's Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley
Newcastle United transfer target Liam Delap has had contact from Arsenal as the Gunners look to strengthen their ability to challenge for the Premier League title and Champions League in the 2025/26 campaign.
The Gunners crashed out of the Champions League last night in Paris and looked to be two or three stars away from lifting a major trophy. Throughout the season Arsenal have lacked firepower as Newcastle fans know only too well given the amount of links between the North London side and Alexander Isak.
Ipswich Town star Delap is now available for a fee of £30million due to a relegation release clause. The talk on the circuit is about the 22-year-old's wage demands with £120,000 to £150,000 per week needed to lure him to interested suitors this summer.
Arsenal, desperate to get ahead of rivals such as Newcastle, Man City and Nottingham Forest, won't baulk at those wages. Delap's representatives will feel they are in a strong position on the striker given his contributions this season and the England Under-21 international is deemed a future Three Lions star. At 22, this is a big opportunity for him to land a deal that would take him into his peak years with a five-year deal being eyed for the 6ft 1in forward.
Delap's representatives are aware of Newcastle's interest but it remains to be seen whether Toon chiefs are prepared to offer a first-team squad player such an astronomical package that could irk current stars.
Queue forming to sign Sean Longstaff this summer
The North Shields lad has not started a game since December in the Premier League and even after the success of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, an injury to the £40million man has not offered Longstaff a fresh opportunity.
With three games to go it feels like the writing is on the wall for the long serving star and the likes of Everton and Leeds have been linked heavily with his signature. Manchester United, as reported by Chronicle Live last winter, are also interested in the midfielder.
Howe stated that Longstaff's future was in his hands last Friday when pressed about the Academy product at his media conference. However, at 27, Longstaff needs first-team football and as he reaches his peak years a more secure contract and longer-term deal.
It is believed that five clubs have expressed an interest in signing the former Kilmarnock and Blackpool loanee. His current deal expires in summer 2026 and he would leave with a heavy heart given he is a boyhood fan of the Magpies but any fee for Longstaff would be deemed as pure profit for the midfielder as far as the PSR rule book is concerned.
Lloyd Kelly prepares for life after Newcastle
Further reports that Lloyd Kelly's move to Juventus have been circulated in this morning's papers in Italy. According to Calciomercato this morning, Kelly's deal has gone through due to his 13 appearances for the Serie A side with his game tally part of the conditions to make his move permanent.
The other condition was for Juventus to qualify for Europe but it looks like the appearance quota has kicked in first. Calciomercato say the deal could be worth £25m in total once the loan fee and future instalments for sporting achievements are factored into the deal.