Newcastle United were linked with a summer transfer swoop for Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah.
It's been another quiet start to the summer transfer window for Newcastle United as their Premier League rivals start to ramp up their business.
Of course, this doesn't mean the Magpies won't have a number of new signings come the end of the window, but getting deals over the line sooner rather than later could be imperative to a bright start.
Eddie Howe has already made it clear the Toon can't afford to stand still ahead of their return to the Champions League and called for the squad to have some fresh faces ahead of their final game of the most recent Premier League season.
It's no secret that Newcastle want to add a central defender to their ranks ahead of next season. The public pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi ended in disappoinment from a Toon perspective.
Despite a number of bids, the Magpies were unable to sign the England international and would not bolster their ranks in January either. Instead, Lloyd Kelly would also depart, thinning their options futher.
As we approached the end of the recent campaign, Liverpool defender Jarrell Quansah was linked with a move to St., James' Park, while Sporting CP defender Ousmane Diomande was scouted ahead of the current window.
However, all three defenders look set to be on the move this summer and it won't be to St. James' Park - as things stand.
The reigning Premier League champions have agreed a deal with Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen to sell England youth international Quansah for a reported £30million plus a further £5m in add-ons, while the Reds have also negotiated a buy-back clause.
His impending departure will likely see Arne Slot's side step up their search for a replacement with Guehi reportedly at the top of their wishlist. The Eagles defender is approaching the final year of his contract and will be available for a cheaper fee than Newcastle were quoted last summer.
FA Cup winners Palace are also understood to have Diomande lined up as a replacement for the England international. One transfer could spark that domino effect to begin, while Newcastle watch on.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that the Toon's transfer activity for their key arrivals in recent seasons has come out of the blue, with alternative names leaked to the media before a move for Sandro Tonali was completed.
The club will be hoping for a similar approach this summer, though the changes at recruitment level will not have made things easy. Eddie Howe, Steve Nickson and Andy Howe have an important few weeks ahead.
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