Newcastle United are hoping to continue their activity in the final three weeks of the summer transfer window, with players in multiple positions targeted.
Fans were hoping that more players would have arrived by now, but as it stands, only two players have joined Newcastle United this summer.
Anthony Elanga joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has arrived from Southampton on loan with an option to buy next summer.
More activity is expected soon, with Malick Thiaw heading to England for his Newcastle medical after a £35million deal was agreed for the 24-year-old. Elsewhere, Yoane Wissa has turned down a late approach from Liverpool for Newcastle.
Wissa is desperate to play for Newcastle, so it could only be a matter of time before the 28-year-old is on Tyneside permanently.
Newcastle also want to sign a midfielder, and were recently linked with a move for West Ham star Lucas Paqueta. However, journalist Lee Ryder has since provided a disappointing update on those rumours.
Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta challenge for the ball during a Premier League game between Newcastle United and West Ham United.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Newcastle United are not looking to sign Lucas Paqueta
Before his move to West Ham, there were murmurs that Paqueta could be signing for the Magpies after being spotted on the Quayside in Newcastle and being seen with club captain Bruno Guimaraes, with who he is great friends. However, he ultimately made the move to London, where he has remained since.
With Graeme Potter not a huge fan of the Brazilian, Paqueta, who has been referred to as ‘incredible’ by David Moyes, could be heading for the exit at West Ham. Reports earlier this week stated that Paqueta is ‘well-liked’ inside Newcastle, sparking discussion over whether a move would be made.
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Sadly, that does not appear to be the case this summer, as Ryder of the Chronicle has stated that the 27-year-old is not somebody Newcastle are looking to make a move for.
Fans will no doubt be gutted to see that Paqueta is not a player the club are actively looking at this summer. Newcastle need a creative midfielder who can score goals and work well with the existing Brazilian contingent on Tyneside.
Newcastle United still need to sign an experienced midfielder this summer
While Paqueta is not a top target this summer, fans are hoping to learn who the next midfield signing will be. Newcastle sold Sean Longstaff to Leeds United and are now without Joe Willock until September after he picked up a calf injury.
It was evident how stretched Newcastle’s midfield was in their two friendly games at St James’ Park on Friday and Saturday. Matt Targett played in midfield against Espanyol, while Harrison Ashby filled in at central midfield against Atletico Madrid.
Eddie Howe admitted Ashby impressed him on Saturday, but used him as an example of how much he is struggling for depth at the moment.
“I think the biggest thing is I liked his attitude,” Howe said after the Sela Cup loss on Saturday.
“He attacked the position. He’s very rarely played that position, although he has trained there for us. It’s a sign of our squad depth… we are stretched in midfield.”