Transfer Round-Up: Proposed Newcastle deal hits a snag - Boro playing waiting game over defender - French interest in Sunderland star

The Magpies completed their sixth summer signing when Joselu finalised his £5m move from Stoke City, but Rafael Benitez still wants to make further additions before the transfer window closes in a fortnight’s time.

Kendey remains close to the top of his wanted list, but Newcastle’s pursuit of the Chelsea youngster has been complicated by the reigning champions’ reluctance to release him.

A couple of weeks ago, Antonio Conte had looked set to let Kenedy leave, but the departure of the likes of Nemanja Matic, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek means he is short of midfield back-up.

That is becoming more and more of a problem, with Eden Hazard and Pedro sidelined, and having been an unused substitute in last weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley, Kenedy could well find himself back in the Chelsea squad for this weekend’s game with Tottenham. That means Newcastle will have to be patient as they seek to finalise a loan deal.

Further down the footballing food chain, Newcastle have also been linked with Cambridge United’s 17-year-old right-back, Leon Davies.

The Magpies have a talented young player of their own in Freddie Woodman, and Tottenham, Everton and Crystal Palace have all expressed an interest in the 20-year-old goalkeeper.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Middlesbrough might have agreed a deal for Birmingham centre-half Ryan Shotton, but the £3m-rated defender will not be moving to the Riverside until Harry Redknapp has secured a replacement, and that is proving problematic.

Redknapp has made a number of attempts to sign Aden Flint from Bristol City, but has so far been unable to prise the defender from Ashton Gate. Until that changes, or Redknapp secures an alternative target, Shotton will not be leaving St Andrew’s.

“We’ve done a deal with Middlesbrough,” confirmed Redknapp. “We’ve said we need a replacement before we can let him go.

“We haven’t signed a replacement – two replacements we need. You need four centre-halves – you can’t go into a season with two centre-halves.”

Earlier this month, Boro agreed a loan deal for Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo, but Garry Monk has alternative targets in mind and the Teessiders duly withdrew their interest in the winger, who is set to complete a season-long move to Fulham later today.

SUNDERLAND

Sunderland’s unbeaten start to the season continued with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday last night, and in the wake of the game at Hillsborough, Black Cats boss Simon Grayson confirmed he had agreed a deal for Max Gradel, only for the Bournemouth winger to head to France instead.

Grayson had been keen to sign Gradel, having worked with the wide man during his time at Leeds United.

The terms of an agreement with Bournemouth were agreed, but after spending four years in Ligue 1 prior to joining the Cherries, Gradel and his family were keen to move back to France. As a result, Gradel spurned Sunderland’s interest and signed a loan deal with Toulouse instead.

Grayson will be desperate to keep his squad intact beyond the end of the transfer window, but French newspaper L’Equipe this morning reported that Lyon are interested in Didier Ndong.

Ndong has been in fine form in the opening few weeks of the season, but having shelled out a club-record £13m to sign the midfielder last summer, Sunderland could be vulnerable if Lyon were to table a significant offer in the final two weeks of the transfer window.

OTHER CLUBS

Tottenham are yet to sign anybody during this transfer window, and are instead fending off further interest in their current players.

The Sun reports that chairman Daniel Levy has warned that Dele Alli would not be sold even if £150m was offered - news which will disappoint Barcelona and Manchester City.

They also appear to be in no mood to entertain Chelsea's interest in Danny Rose, according to the Evening Standard.

North London rivals Arsenal are also doing their best to deter bidders interested in Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Daily Star reports Manchester City have bid £60m for Sanchez, with the Express reporting a £45m bid has already been rejected.

The Sun reports that Arsene Wenger has told Oxlade-Chamberlain he wants him to stay for a "long time" as Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United circle.

It is no secret that United want Zlatan Ibrahimovic to re-sign when he has recovered from his knee injury, and the Independent says they will sweeten the deal with a little career development, offering the Swede a coaching role.