Manchester City winger Jack Grealish
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish
The first transfer window of the summer may have closed following Tuesday’s 7pm deadline, but the rumour mill is showing no signs of slowing down.
Clubs will be able to resume business in just six days’ time when the second window opens on June 16, running through to September 1, by which point the 2025/26 season will already be underway. For Newcastle United, it’s shaping up to be a pivotal summer as Eddie Howe’s side prepare for a return to Champions League football.
Competing on multiple fronts is no easy task, and it’s one Newcastle are already familiar with after their 2023/24 campaign saw them back in Europe’s premier competition. However, they finished bottom of their group and only managed a seventh-place finish in the Premier League.
With an eye on the upcoming window, Chronicle Live takes a look at the latest transfer news and rumours surrounding Newcastle United...
Winger shortlist 'emerges'
It’s become increasingly clear that one of the areas Howe is keen to strengthen this summer is out wide. Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo had been a target, but he has now set his sights on joining Manchester United.
In the past few days, a number of potential alternatives have been linked with a move to St James’ Park, though not all of them are genuine targets. A report from The Athletic has helped clarify which names are genuinely under consideration by Newcastle and which are little more than paper talk.
Anthony Elanga, Joao Pedro, Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus are all listed as players of real interest. Meanwhile, Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Manchester City’s Jack Grealish are not currently being considered, despite speculation to the contrary.
Chronicle Live says: It’s no surprise to see a flood of names during transfer season, and it’s often hard to separate which are genuine links and which are not. Newcastle clearly need to cast a wide net, especially after missing out on Mbeumo. Who they ultimately land will be interesting, but the Elanga links have persisted for over a year now, suggesting he may be the winger Howe is most eager to bring in.
Guehi interest 'remains'
Newcastle’s pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was one of the standout stories of the 2024 summer window, and those links have resurfaced again a year later. The Athletic also reports that a right-sided centre-back remains a priority for Howe when the window reopens.
The article notes that Newcastle’s interest in Guehi has not faded, even after previously missing out on him. Real Madrid’s new signing Dean Huijsen was also on the shortlist, but Guehi is understood to be highly regarded within the club.
Chronicle Live says: Another summer, another Guehi saga. The Palace captain is undoubtedly one of the most impressive centre-back options on the market, owing to his extensive Premier League experience. That said, his quality ensures plenty of competition, with Arsenal among the other clubs reportedly interested, as well as a high price tag - with a fee of around £65m reportedly needed to persuade Palace to part ways with him. Newcastle’s return to the Champions League and clear need for defensive reinforcements could help tip the scales in their favour, whether it’s Guehi or another elite target they end up landing.
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