NEWCASTLE

Newcastle United will complete their third signing of the summer later today, with Brazilian winger Kenedy set to re-sign on another season-long loan from Chelsea.

Kenedy travelled to the North-East last night, and will undergo a medical at the Magpies’ training ground this morning.

The Northern Echo:

The deal is a major success for Rafael Benitez and the rest of Newcastle’s recruitment team as they have been talking to Chelsea officials for the majority of the summer in an attempt to push something through.

Kenedy spent the second half of last season on loan at St James’ Park, and impressed with a series of effective displays on the left-hand side of the Newcastle midfield.

He follows Martin Dubravka and Ki Sung-yeung through the entrance door, and attention will now switch to the pursuit of a striker ahead of next week’s training camp in Ireland.

Newcastle had hoped to sign Alassane Plea from Nice, but the Ligue 1 club rejected the Magpies’ offer and the 25-year-old centre-forward now looks set to join German side Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Bundelisga club are in advanced talks with Nice, and the German media claim Plea has indicated a willingness to move to Monchengladbach.

That could result in Newcastle turning to West Brom’s Salomon Rondon, who is available for £16.5m thanks to the presence of a relegation release clause in his contract.

Benitez is pushing for Rondon’s signing, but some members of the Newcastle hierarchy are understood to be reluctant to offer a long-term deal to a player who will turn 29 in September.


SUNDERLAND

Joel Asoro is close to completing his departure from the Stadium of Light, with Sunderland having accepted a £2m offer from Championship club Swansea City.

Asoro, who has entered the final year of his current contract on Wearside, turned down the offer of a new deal last season.

The Northern Echo:

He has subsequently reiterated his desire to leave the Black Cats, and Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has opted to accept Swansea’s £2m offer.

Asoro, who is a Sweden Under-21 international, is now expected to travel to South Wales to undergo a medical and agree personal terms.

However, Donald has indicated that Josh Maja is now set to stay with Sunderland. Maja also turned down the offer of a new deal last season, but there is now a good chance that the youngster will sign a contract extension at the Stadium of Light.

It is set to be a busy week for departures as Wahbi Khazri’s move to French side St Etienne should also go through in the next 24 hours.

Khazri will make a £9m move, having interrupted a family holiday to undergo a medical and tie up the finer details of his St Etienne switch.

Sunderland open their pre-season campaign with a game against Darlington at Blackwell Meadows this evening.


MIDDLESBROUGH

Boro are hoping to make progress with their pursuit of a striker this week, with Burnley’s Sam Vokes currently at the top of Tony Pulis’ wanted list.

Pulis is keen to overhaul his forward line, and Vokes has emerged as the Teessiders’ leading target, with Burnley understood to be willing to do a deal.

Burnley, who are looking to re-sign Jay Rodriguez from Southampton, value Vokes at around £15m, which would represent a considerable profit given they signed the 28-year-old for around £350,000 in 2012.

The Northern Echo: GOAL TRAIL: Sam Vokes scored twice for Burnley in the draw with West Brom

Vokes, who boasts 59 senior caps for Wales, has scored 58 goals in 230 senior appearances for Burnley, but found himself struggling to hold down a starting spot last season.

He started just seven Premier League matches last terms, with Sean Dyche preferring Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood, and the Clarets boss is willing to move him on.

Vokes’ arrival would place a question mark over the future of Britt Assombalonga and Patrick Bamford, with both strikers having been the subject of outside interest this summer.

Boro continue to be linked with Matt Phillips, although any move for the West Brom winger is likely to be dependent on what happens with Adama Traore this summer.

Having kicked off their pre-season campaign in Austria last week, Boro play their first warm-up game on home soil this evening when they travel to National League North side Spennymoor Town.