Transfer Round-Up: New Premier League interest in Lascelles

Jamaal Lascelles is a man in demand this summer, with Everton having become the latest club to be credited with an interest in the Newcastle centre-half.

Chelsea have spent most of the last two seasons monitoring Lascelles’ position, but the Stamford Bridge club are in a state of stasis, with questions over Roman Abramovich’s ownership and the future of their manager, Antonio Conte.

Chelsea’s failure to make an early move could prove costly, as new Everton boss Marco Silva has identified Lascelles as one of his key transfer priorities.

Everton relied heavily on the ageing Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams, and Silva sees 24-year-old Lascelles as a younger alternative.

Prising the Newcastle skipper out of St James’ Park will be another matter though, with Rafael Benitez understandably determined to hold on to his side’s most influential defender.

Everton are understood to be willing to pay around £30m for Lascelles, but even at that price, Benitez would be extremely reluctant to sell.

Newcastle continue to monitor a number of potential signings, with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere on their radar.

Wilshere is due to become a free agent at the end of this month, and while there is still a chance the Gunners could tie him to a new deal, Newcastle are one of a number of clubs ready to pounce if he decides his future lies away from the Emirates.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Tony Pulis remains reluctant to spend too much of Steve Gibson’s money this summer, but the Middlesbrough manager will still be making changes, with Swiss striker Michael Frey having emerged as a potential target.

Boro are understood to have sent a scouting delegation to watch Frey play for his club side, FC Zurich, in the Swiss Cup final.

Frey, a 23-year-old forward, scored as Zurich claimed a 2-1 win over Young Boys, and finished last season with a tally of 16 goals.

He is expected to leave his current employers this summer, and Boro value him at around £2m.

Pulis is keen to make attacking changes, with Martin Braithwaite, who was confirmed in Denmark’s World Cup squad at the weekend, set to make a permanent departure after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bordeaux.

SUNDERLAND

The summer exodus from the Stadium of Light has begun, with former Sunderland skipper John O’Shea leading the list of departures.

New Sunderland boss Jack Ross has opted against handing O’Shea a new deal on Wearside, and the Irishman is set to join Championship side Reading on a one-year deal.

O’Shea retired from international football at the weekend, but wants to continue his club career for at least another 12 months.

Reading have given him that opportunity, and he will be formally confirmed as a Royals player shortly.

Ross is also expected to allow Billy Jones, Kazenga LuaLua and Marc Wilson to leave, with the trio also due to reach the end of their current Sunderland contracts at the end of the month.

It remains to be seen whether Paddy McNair will also be leaving Wearside this summer, but Brighton are ready to test Sunderland’s resolve by tabling another bid for the Northern Irish midfielder.

Sunderland rejected Brighton’s initial £3.5m bid for McNair last week, but the Premier League club are set to return with another offer of around £5m. Stewart Donald could find that rather harder to resist, despite McNair’s potential importance as Sunderland look to regroup in League One.

OTHER CLUBS

Real Madrid have moved to Plan B after accepting defeat in their bid to bring in Mauricio Pochettino, according to the Daily Mail. The Spurs boss was the main target after the resignation of Zinedine Zidane with former Real player Guti among those the club have spoken to, the paper said.

Watford are looking to bolster their defence with the signing of Adam Masina from Bologna, reports the Daily Mirror. A deal for the 24-year-old left-back is still "some way off completion" as Masina is looking at interest from elsewhere, the paper said.

The World Cup will provide an opportunity for Bayern Munich to get a closer look at England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, reports the Sun. Pickford, who signed for Everton from Sunderland, is wanted by the Bundesliga side as a potential replacement for Manuel Neuer, the paper said.

A potential arrival at Goodison Park comes in the form of Charlton defender Ezri Konsa, who has been on the radar of Everton since the turn of the year, the Daily Mirror reports. The club will be challenged to the signature of the England under-20 international by Brighton, the paper adds.