Could Eddie Howe have a new striker next season?placeholder image
Could Eddie Howe have a new striker next season? | AFP via Getty Images
Rounding up the latest Premier League transfer rumours - with news from Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and more.
Every day, our journalists comb through the gossip columns to bring you a round-up of the biggest (and sometimes wildest) Premier League transfer rumours which you might have missed over the past 24 hours – and today, we start with a report involving both Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Football Insider, sources suggest that Newcastle could take a look at signing Dominic Solanke as they search for a new striker this summer, with the 28-year-old forward said to “tick a lot of boxes” for the Magpies.
Apparently Solanke has a “strong relationship” with Eddie Howe following their time together at Bournemouth, which overlapped by a year or so, and Spurs are apparently “vulnerable to offers” this summer – with relegation apparently certain to spell the end of the England international’s time in North London.
There’s no suggestion that any discussion have taken place, nor any word on the kind of asking price that might be involved, only the suggestion that it would take a “big fee” to get Solanke if Newcastle did make a move. Apparently they intend to keep Nick Woltemade but continue playing him in a deeper role, creating a continued need for a true number nine.
The 3AM Verdict: While by no means a particularly far-fetched rumour, there isn’t any detail here or anything in the article which persuades us that it’s true. Newcastle are likely to sign a striker and Spurs may well end up cleaning house after an awful year, but that doesn’t mean that this move will happen. We’ll put it down as a maybe, but this could well be pure speculation.
Chelsea show ‘strong interest’ in Brentford star
Let’s head over to a story from TeamTalk now, which claims that Chelsea are “stepping up” their pursuit of a new striker for next season – and are showing “strong interest” in Brentford’s 21-goal star Igor Thiago.
Apparently, the on-song Brazilian is “firmly on Chelsea’s radar” as they look to add some firepower up front, although it’s suggested that they’re scouting other options as well and have presumably yet to make a final decision. On the other hand, Chelsea have apparently been monitoring Thiago ever since he was playing in Belgium with Club Brugge.
Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also mentioned as sharing Chelsea’s “admiration” for the 24-year-old, so there could be some competition if they do make a move. There’s no word on the transfer fee which might be involved, or on Brentford’s stance.
The 3AM Verdict: Thiago signed a new long-term contract with Brentford in February, so his current employers have a ton of leverage, meaning that any deal would be hugely expensive, if the Bees were willing to sell at all. Chelsea aren’t shy about spending, mind you, so we wouldn’t rule this one out.
Liverpool ‘working hard’ to keep key player as three sides circle
We’ll finish up at Anfield today – Caught Offside reckon that Liverpool are still “working hard” to persuade centre-back Ibrahima Konaté to sign a new contract, but three elite European sides are also showing “growing interest.”
Real Madrid, PSG and Inter Milan are all mentioned as clubs that are “closely monitoring developments,” with talks over a new deal said to have “stalled.” With such sides in the mix, it’s suggested that Konaté’s long-term future is very far from certain.
Liverpool are apparently “eager” and “determined” to tie the 26-year-old down but with no contract signed and no sign that a decision will be made imminently, they’ll be left to sweat over the situation for a while yet. There’s no word on whether the Frenchman wants to leave or not, but keeping him is now apparently Liverpool’s “priority” ahead of the summer transfer window.
The 3AM Verdict: Nothing new here per se, save for an update to the list of clubs potentially involved in the race. The last we heard, Real Madrid had cooled their interest after Konaté endured a poor start to the season, and it’s interesting to see Bayern Munich not mentioned, but either way he’ll have some suitors. We haven’t seen anything to suggest that the defender has made his mind up.
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