The latest Newcastle United transfer news and headlines ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear clash vs Sunderland.
Sunderland hold the bragging rights after a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light in December, so all eyes will be on St. James’ Park to see if Newcastle can respond.
Of course, with the summer fast approaching, transfer news is also starting to pick up pace on Tyneside. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest NUFC headlines on this most important of weekends.
Liam Delap re-emerges as striker target
The striker position has stolen the headlines over the past six months at St. James’ Park, with Alexander Isak making his British record move to Liverpool after a long transfer saga, and Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa coming in to very mixed success.
However, form has clearly shown that Eddie Howe still lacks a reliable goalscorer, so it’s no surprise to see the striker position getting plenty of attention once again.
Liam Delap is the latest name in the frame, with GIVEMESPORT reporting that the Chelsea man has emerged as a genuine summer target, having already met Howe in person last summer before he moved to Stamford Bridge.
23-year-old Delap’s move to Chelsea has not worked out so far, scoring just one goal in 21 Premier League appearances for the Blues, and registering only three goals and four assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.
There will understandably be sceptics of this move based on the above, but Delap has proven he has what it takes in the English top-flight, netting 12 goals in 37 appearances for a relegated Ipswich Town side during the 2024/25 campaign.
Delap’s contract at Chelsea runs until the summer of 2031, so he likely won’t come cheap, despite his poor form in West London.
Rio Ferdinand warns Man Utd off Newcastle duo
Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are two of Newcastle United’s most prized assets and vitally important to Eddie Howe’s side. But their form and standing at St. James’ Park have often brought admiring glances from elsewhere, and the duo are often linked with moves away from St. James’ Park.
Manchester United are set for a midfield overhaul in the summer, especially with Casemiro already confirmed to be leaving the club. As such, a whole host of stars are already being linked to Old Trafford - which should host Champions League football again next season - including Guimaraes and Tonali.
However, former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand has warned his old club not to target Guimaraes or Tonali, instead insisting that ex-Magpie Elliot Anderson - now at Nottingham Forest - is a better fit.
“Beginning of the season everyone was talking about [Carlos] Baleba, he seems to have gone off the boil a little bit form wise,” Ferdinand said.
“Elliot Anderson, he seems to have jumped to the front of the queue. I think he’s a wonderful player.
“I think Elliot Anderson is the right type not only of player but character, I think he’d be a good addition to the squad.
“Tonali is a big talent that everyone is talking about, Guimaraes is another big talent that everyone is talking about, but I just think the type of midfielder United need is somebody who is a bit more all-action, who can cover ground, who is dynamic, who is robust, strong, who can drive a team.
“Right now Anderson seems to be ticking those boxes. But I think there are a few other young guns out there who I won’t mention their names yet because I don’t want anyone else to get on that scent.”
Danny Simpson makes Newcastle vs Sunderland prediction
Danny Simpson played 14 times for Sunderland during the 2006/07 season, while he is a veteran of 138 games for Newcastle United. So, despite never playing against the Magpies in a Tyne-Wear derby, he did face the Black Cats five times in such a fixture and knows exactly what it means to both sides of the divide.
Newcastle head into the game off the back of that drubbing against Barca, but have shown improved Premier League form recently, while Sunderland have won just three of their 14 league games since beating their arch-rivals in December.
With all of that in mind, Simpson believes this fixture is perfectly timed to set up a priceless Newcastle win, which will help their surge back up the table and restore bragging rights in the North East.
"I feel like the timing now of this game is probably the right time for Newcastle more than Sunderland," Simpson asserted.
"I think they're struggling a little bit compared to the start of the season, and I think if you look at the results lately for Newcastle, I was at the Manchester United game and the atmosphere was just incredible..
"I feel like everything is falling into place for Newcastle to go and get the win."
Continue Reading