The Magpies are keen on signing a goalkeeper but are bruised by Johan Manzambi's snub
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is aiming to strengthen his squad in the transfer window(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
View Image
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is remaining cautious behind the scenes amid a challenging transfer window.
The Toon chief was aware of talks being cranked up for Johan Manzambi last week but knew that the deal could be fraught with issues, not least the competition to sign the SC Freiburg star.
And those fears proved to be justified as Newcastle try to work without the lure of European football and a tight budget in terms of wages and fees.
Nevertheless, Newcastle made Manzambi what was deemed a competitive offer for his signature, and he would have been one of the highest-paid stars at St James' Park despite his fledgling years. Had Manzambi been purchased by Newcastle at £49m it would have been a club record for SC Freiburg.
Here's where Newcastle stand with a number of other potential transfers.
Tarik Muharemovic
The 23-year-old Bosnia star has been offered to Newcastle according to reports in Italy and he would fit in with the club's age profile for attracting younger stars.
The same reports mention Sunderland, Leeds United and Bournemouth who all like the centre-back which will in itself make Newcastle nervous. However, centre-back is not a priority position for the Magpies right now.
A €40m price tag has been set on the US Sassuolo star, who has also interested his old club, Juventus. It is thought that Juve would be able to get the defender half-price as they have clause which allows them to get a 50% slice of whatever fee he is sold for.
Nick Pope
Pope is now back training on Tyneside and been pictured alongside his team-mates after a summer of speculation.
Having been linked with Hull City and Ipswich Town, newly-promoted Coventry City are the latest side to be reportedly keen on the 34-year-old after struggling to get a deal tied up for Carl Rushworth, who spent last season on loan from Brighton.
However, our sources suggest that no move has been made for Pope - for now. He remains very much a Newcastle player.
James Trafford
It's edging closer to D-day for Trafford as England's World Cup adventure winds to a close - one way or another.
Trafford could yet get through the tournament without playing a minute but would come into contention if England end up in the third-place match in Miami on Saturday.
Trafford specifically instructed his camp that he would wait until after the World Cup to make a decision on his future and whether he will quit Man City or not. With a holiday expected in August, he may want to get a deal thrashed out before the season kicks off.
Trafford is also admired by Aston Villa who could again haunt Newcastle in the current window, having pipped them to Manzambi. Villa's No 1 Emi Martinez - who will be in the opposition changing room to Trafford in Atlanta on Wednesday night - is expected to leave the club this summer.
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.