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Newcastle United transfer truth on James Garner as Sven Botman seeks assurances

Newcastle United have checked out Everton star James Garner in recent weeks - but no serious talks between the two clubs have taken place at this stage.

Chronicle Live understands that the defensive midfielder, 24, but it is believed that the Toffees have an extra year option on Garner. That would take him to 2027 with his existing deal and mean Newcastle would be looking at a fee of over £20m.

With Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton, the first-choice stars in Eddie Howe's midfield engine room, and Joe Willock, Lewis Miley, and Jacob Ramsey, a central midfielder is not a priority for the Magpies in the next two windows. Newcastle may only turn to a new midfield target of that ilk if one of their senior stars leave St James' Park.

The other big transfer story doing the rounds this week was Kees Smit of AZ Alkmaar who has been linked with a £22m move to St James' Park. Smit is another youngster on Newcastle's radar but Newcastle aren't alone in their admiration for the teenager.

The 19-year-old is being tracked by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund, who are all ahead of Newcastle in the queue after some long-term scouting missions and research.

Sven Botman holds talks with Eddie Howe

The Dutchman's future has been a topic of conversation in recent weeks after talk from Holland that Botman was yet to sit down for talks over a new deal.

There is also a suggestion that there is firm interest from Liverpool in Botman, but his discussions with Howe, which took place before the Brentford game, are believed to have been over selection and a clear plan for first-team action. If Botman is to have any chance of making it to the World Cup he has to be in the first XI on Tyneside.

After being overlooked by Ronald Koeman, Botman has until the springtime to try to stake his claim. He currently has two years left on his current deal and is in a fierce battle for places with Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Jamaal Lascelles for a first-team place.

Should Howe turn back to full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento and switch Blyth battler Burn back into the heart of defence, Botman could find himself back on the bench. Unfortunately, his display at Brentford has left him in a vulnerable position ahead of the clash against Man City.

But Burn will be suspended for the clash against Pep Guardiola's side, so Botman may get a chance to cement his spot.

Derby fever back at St James' Park

It's nine months since the emotional scenes at St James' when Shania Hayles scored a late winner at the Gallowgate End to sink Sunderland. That day, in front of a crowd of 38,502, the bragging rights belonged to Newcastle after a hard fought Tyne-Wear derby win.

The club have invested heavily with an advertising campaign to push the derby, even deploying Dan Burn and Ant & Dec to push ticket sales. The last count for sales for this weekend's game was over 15,000 but that figure was rising and there are still plenty of seats left.

Fans can join the fun on Sunday by snapping up tickets here. The game kicks off at 2pm.

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