Transfer round-up: Baggies still tracking Boro defender, former Newcastle and Sunderland defender signs for Stowmarket plus Coutinho hands in transfer request

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis is set to make a fresh offer for Boro defender Ben Gibson.

Pulis, who has signed a one-year contract extension at The Hawthorns, is desperate to make Gibson his big high profile defensive signing before the end of the transfer window.

The Middlesbrough man started at Wolves last week and is expected to keep his place against Sheffield United tomorrow at the Riverside.

Gibson, pictured, and Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk are in no rush to strike a deal with the Baggies, with the player also aware there has been plenty of interest from other Premier league clubs even if bids have not been made.

Pulis hopes the prospect of playing top-flight football in a World Cup year will help his claims to attract Gibson, although it is understood Middlesbrough have already knocked back West Brom’s advances twice already.

Monk is focused on trying to do his own transfer business and he is on the verge of adding Chelsea’s attacking midfielder Lewis Baker to his ranks.

Baker, 22, has is believed to have opted for Boro over Reading, Aston Villa and Birmingham and he will replace Marten de Roon in the squad. De Roon completed his move to Atalanta on Wednesday.

NEWCASTLE

WITH the exception of Chelsea winger Kenedy expected to arrive in the coming days on loan, it has all gone very quiet at St James’ Park on the transfer front.

Rafa Benitez’s focus has turned to Sunday’s visit of Tottenham to open the season and he will be speaking to the media this afternoon, when he is likely to discuss transfer progress – if there is any.

It remains the case, though, that the Magpies must offload a number of players before they can bring others in.

On that front, too, there is little progress being made and the biggest news this week is that Jack Colback, pictured, will be omitted from the 25-man Premier League squad.

Newcastle have been interested in striker Andre Gray but wwere not prepared to pay the money being demanded for him, and that allowed Watford to sign him for £18.5m.

Former Newcastle defender Titus Bramble, meanwhile, is getting his boots out again. The 36-year-old played his last game for Sunderland in 2013 and has been working as an academy coach at Ipswich.

He has now signed a one-year deal with Stowmarket Town and will be playing in the Eastern Counties Premier Division. His debut will be against Felixstowe and Walton United on Saturday.

SUNDERLAND

The Black Cats are no nearer to landing a new player before this weekend’s round of fixtures, but the calls are still going in and attempts being made.

Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter, Aston Villa’s Ross McCormack and Preston’s Jordan Hugill are the three main targets at this stage, as there is a belief that they could get the deals done.

Simon Grayson, the Sunderland manager, has indicated that he has not spoken to Boro counterpart Garry Monk about Leadbitter’s availability.

He did seem to suggest he had done his homework on him, though, by suggesting that the player is a “Sunderland boy” after the victory at Bury on Thursday.

Sunderland youngster Oscar Krusnell, meanwhile, has signed a three-year contract with Swedish side Hammarby.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS …

The big news today nationally is that Philippe Coutinho has handed in a transfer request, amid interest from Barcelona.

Just an hour or so after Liverpool had insisted that the Brazilian would not be sold during this transfer window, Coutinho is understood to have requested a move to Barca.

The Spanish giants have had an offer in the region of 100m euros knocked back for Coutinho and now he appears to have talen matters into his own hands to force the deal through.

Arsenal will offer Alexis Sanchez weekly wages of £300,000 to try and keep him at the club and out of the grasp of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

Serge Aurier has agreed a five-year deal with Manchester United but the club are yet to agree a fee with Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Gremio forward Luan and could end up fighting it out with Arsenal for his signature now a possible move to Spartak Moscow has 'stalled'.

West Ham's Manuel Lanzini is also set for a big pay rise, with a new £85,000-per-week deal aimed to stave off interest from Liverpool.

West Ham have offered £27.1m for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, but the Portuguese side could still be holding out for something nearer his £39m buyout clause.

Everton have revived their interest in Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic, the former Blackburn player now rated at £23m by his club.

Tottenham have been warned they will not get Ross Barkley on the cheap and not to wait until the end of the summer window to try and secure his signature.

Juventus have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign Barcelona's Sergi Roberto.

Celtic are bracing themselves for a £3m bid from Southampton for midfielder Stuart Armstrong.

Leeds United are preparing an offer for Hamburg striker Pierre-Michael Lasogga.

Manchester City will not allow Samir Nasri to leave the club on a free transfer and their £10m valuation could see him priced out of a move to Turkey with Antalyaspor.