Newcastle United and Chelsea could do surprise business this summer.placeholder image
Newcastle United and Chelsea could do surprise business this summer. | AFP via Getty Images
Your latest Premier League transfer rumours, including Chelsea, Newcastle United, Arsenal and more...
This Saturday morning’s latest round-up of the transfer stories fresh off the rumour mill begins at St. James’ Park, where Newcastle United are considering refreshing their forward options this summer after the limited success of their expensive recruits at the start of the season.
The Magpies are considering a shock double swoop from Premier League rivals Chelsea to combat this, with both Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson targeted by the North East outfit ahead of the summer transfer window as per TEAMtalk.
Newcastle spent £124million on striker duo Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa last year but both have failed to hit expectations. Woltemade started strongly but has tailed off and does not appear a good fit for Eddie Howe’s system, while Wissa spent a long period out injured and has failed to hit the ground running on his return. Both of the big-money pair were left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes of the Toon’s humiliating 7-2 defeat in Barcelona in midweek, which could spell the end for both players ahead of next term.
Indeed, TEAMtalk’s report states that bolstering the No.9 position is a ‘top priority’ for Newcastle this summer and the club have ‘accelerated’ their interest in both Delap and Jackson, both of whom have no guarantees of a future at Stamford Bridge – though Newcastle would only like to sign one of them, as per the report. Delap has struggled since his £30m move from Ipswich Town, scoring just once in the league, but was a Newcastle target last summer and the club are thought still to appreciate his potential and massive upside. Meanwhile, £32m signing Jackson has been out on loan at Bayern Munich serving as back-up to Harry Kane and might be on the move again this summer. He previously struck 24 Premier League goals in 65 appearances for the Blues.
The 3AM verdict: It would certainly have been more interesting if Newcastle were looking to bring in both Delap and Jackson together, but maybe this is the more sensible move to target just one of them. Both have proven they can score goals in the Premier League but Jackson’s exile and Delap’s struggles at Chelsea mean both players would have some level of risk attached to their signing. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but we’re not entirely convinced.
Arsenal target Bundesliga wonderkid as £61m race heats up
Meanwhile, in north London, Arsenal are targeting a Bundesliga wonderkid and might make a move for the teenage scoring sensation this summer.
As per Caught Offside relaying reports from Spain, the Gunners are ‘intensifying their pursuit’ of 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen striker Christian Kofane ahead of the summer and will look to get ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle in the race for a player valued at £61m.
Kofane only signed for Leverkusen from Spanish Segunda División side Albacete last summer but has already bagged seven goals and eight assists for the Bundesliga giants, including an assist in victory at the Etihad and was a thorn in the Gunners’ side despite not scoring in Bayer’s 3-1 aggregate defeat in the Champions League last 16.
The 3AM verdict: Kofane is just 14 months into his professional career having made his senior debut in January 2025 and after how quickly he has risen to becoming a regular goalscorer in the Bundesliga and at AFCON for his native Cameroon, it does not surprise us that Premier League giants are now sniffing around.
Whether he would be ready for a big move to Arsenal as soon as this summer can be debated – but if he is used as a rotation option at first or even sent out on loan to gain experience in England, this could prove a smart purchase. It’s always exciting to see a young forward taking Europe by storm and we are intrigued to see where Kofane ends up next.
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