NEWCASTLE
Newcastle United are involved in talks aimed at re-signing their former winger, Andros Townsend, but are yet to agree a price with Crystal Palace.
Townsend left Tyneside two summers ago after Palace triggered a £13m relegation release clause in his contract, but Rafael Benitez has always been keen to re-sign the England international.
Benitez tried to force through a deal in the January transfer window, but the Newcastle hierarchy balked at the financial details of a proposed transfer and Palace were reluctant to sell as they battled against relegation in the bottom half of the table.
Benitez is determined to sign Townsend this summer, although Newcastle will have to bid more than the £18m that has been mentioned in reports this morning.
Palace started the summer valuing Townsend at £30m, and while they are understood to have dropped their price slightly in the last few weeks, it is hard to imagine Newcastle being able to engineer a deal for much less than £25m.
Townsend’s arrival could well herald the departure of Matt Ritchie, with Stoke City and Bournemouth having expressed a strong interest in the Scottish winger.
Stoke are prepared to pay £15m for Ritchie’s services, with Bournemouth also hoping to engineer a deal for their former wide man.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are set to confirm the capture of Swiss youngster Yannick Toure, who is regarded as one of his country’s brightest attacking prospects.
Toure, who does not turn 18 until the end of September, is leaving Swiss club Young Boys this summer, and Newcastle are understood to have reached a pre-contract agreement for his transfer.
SUNDERLAND
Sunderland’s players head for a pre-season training camp in Portugal today, and it is hoped at least one new signing will be teaming up with them before they return home.
Dylan McGeouch could be confirmed as Sunderland’s fifth summer signing in the next 24 hours after indicating a desire to move to Wearside despite strong interest from his homeland.
Having rejected the offer of a new deal with Hibernian, McGeouch has been offered moves to both Rangers and Aberdeen.
However, after travelling to Sunderland’s Academy of Light training ground to meet Jack Ross, McGeouch is poised to commit his long-term future to the Black Cats.
The 25-year-old, who is a full Scotland international, was a product of Celtic’s youth system before joining Hibs in 2015.
Sunderland had hoped to sign Clark Robertson last week, but the defender was confirmed as a Rotherham United player on Friday, having opted to step up to the Championship rather than remain in League One.
Robertson said: “I had other offers in League One, but I think I’ve got to test myself in the Championship and I feel as though I’m ready to do that.”
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough have swelled their academy ranks with the signing of 19-year-old defender Sam Stubbs, who is the son of former Everton and Celtic defender, Alan.
Stubbs joins Boro’s youth set-up from Wigan Athletic, and has previously had loan spells at League Two side Crewe Alexandra and National League club AFC Fylde.
Boro have also recruited 17-year-old defender Djed Spence, who moves to the North-East from Fulham.
A product of Fulham’s academy system, Spence had a successful trial with Boro at the end of last season, playing in an Under-23s game against Newcastle.
Boro have handed first professional contracts to midfielder Connor Malley and goalkeepers Brad James and Zach Hemming. They have also offered short-term contracts to the end of August to defender James Cook and midfielder Amadou Sylla.
Mikael Soisalo has left the academy, joining Belgian side Zulte Waregem, while Boro have released Tom Brewitt, Liam Cooke, Matthew Elsdon, Liam Hegarty, Jakub Sinior, Kieran Storey, Robbie Tinkler and Jay Wilson.
The Teessiders have offered scholarships to 12 players, including a number of locally-born prospects. The new arrivals are: Albero Balde (Spain), Isiah Cornet (France), Harold Essien (Manchester), Harry Flatters (Huntingdon), Isaac Fletcher (Middlesbrough), Joseph Gibson (Bishop Auckland), Harry Green (Stockton), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Terry Stephenson (Papua New Guinea), Cain Sykes (Sunderland), Andrew Wilson (Darlington), Nathan Wood (Middlesbrough).
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