Transfer Round-Up: Newcastle boss RULES OUT move for long-standing midfield target - Boro pushing hard for Karl Darlow deal - Sunderland assessing goalkeeping targets

With the signings of Jacob Murphy and Javier Manquillo due to be confirmed later today, Newcastle United have finally made some much-needed progress in the transfer market.

Their summer spending will not end there, but Rafael Benitez has ruled out a move for one of the Magpies’ long-standing targets, Everton midfielder James McCarthy.

Newcastle’s recruitment team looked at McCarthy during the January transfer window, and had sounded out his potential availability this summer.

However, with Everton understood to be demanding around £20m for the Republic of Ireland international, Benitez has removed the midfielder from his list of targets.

“He (McCarthy) is a good player, but we now have a lot of them at this club,” said Benitez, during a question-and-answer session that followed a signing session in Dublin. “We have been linked with around 100 players, but he is not our first target at the moment.”

Benitez also confirmed that striker Daryl Murphy will be leaving St James’ Park this summer, with a number of Championship clubs, including Sunderland, interested in adding him to their ranks.

“We are talking about different things in the Premier League, and we have some clubs asking about him,” said the Newcastle boss. “We have been chatting at training in recent days, and he knows that if a club comes in, he will go on a permanent transfer once the deal is best for him and us.

“I was really pleased with his contribution last season, not just because he played games and scored goals, but he led by example, both in the dressing room and training. He was a positive influence on the team.”

MIDDLESBROUGH

They might have spent more than £30m this summer, but Middlesbrough remains determined to make more additions before the start of the Championship season, with Newcastle United goalkeeper Karl Darlow currently at the top of their wanted list.

Boro have had an initial offer, which is understood to have been around £5m, rejected by Newcastle officials, but the Magpies remain willing to do business if the price is right.

They are believed to be demanding around £8m, and further talks are planned in an attempt to reach a compromise agreement.

Boro are also keen to sign Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo on loan, but there is intense competition for the 20-year-old.

Newcastle, Fulham and Derby have also agreed the terms of a potential loan deal with Liverpool, and it is now up to Ojo to decide where he wants to play his football next season.

The youngster will have the final decision, although Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would prefer him to join a club in the Championship as he thinks it will increase his chances of playing regular first-team football.

Boro play their first pre-season friendly on domestic soil this evening as they head to League Two side Mansfield Town.

SUNDERLAND

Sunderland’s squad remains in a state of flux, with Vito Mannone on the brink of becoming the latest player to leave the Stadium of Light.

Mannone is due to have a medical at Reading today after Sunderland accepted a fee of around £2m for the Italian goalkeeper.

With Jordan Pickford having joined Everton at the start of the summer, that means the untried Max Stryjek is now the only senior goalkeeper on Sunderland’s books, and Simon Grayson will be making the purchase of a new shot-stopper a key priority in the next couple of days.

The Black Cats boss has been linked with possible moves for Rob Green and Alex Smithies in the last couple of days.

“If he (Mannone) goes, it’s clear we need another goalkeeper,” said Grayson. “But you saw (in the friendly against Hartlepool), with young Max, I’m not saying he’s going to be number one,  but he’s shown what a good goalkeeper he is and what he could be.”

Sunderland continued their pre-season preparations with a 2-1 win over Hartlepool at Victoria Park, with their goals coming courtesy of a Josh Maja penalty and a late Jeremain Lens free-kick.

OTHER CLUBS

Ross Barkley is demanding a whopping £150,000 a week to join Tottenham, reports the Mirror.

The Everton midfielder, whose future looks certain to be away from Goodison Park, has been linked with a move to Spurs, but he wants to be paid more than Harry Kane if he is to join.

Barkley's potential arrival at the north London club could pave the way for former Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko to leave.

The Daily Mail are reporting that Sissoko is keen to leave Spurs, who must foot some of the bill to get him out of the club.

Brazilian website Esporte Interativo are claiming that Neymar has agreed to join Paris St Germain after a £195m deal was agreed between the French club and Barcelona.

The Ligue 1 runners-up are distancing themselves from the deal, though, according to L'Equipe.

Marko Arnautovic looks set to get his move away from Stoke, with the Sun reporting that a £24m deal with West Ham has been agreed.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has signed a new deal and he wants to celebrate by signing a new left-back. The Daily Star is reporting that Conte is eyeing up potential moves for Monaco's Benjamin Mendy or Southampton's Ryan Bertrand.