NEWCASTLE
Things didn’t go to plan on the pitch for Newcastle United yesterday as they marked their return to the Premier League with a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham, and they haven’t been much better off the field for the majority of the summer as Rafael Benitez has suffered a succession of disappointments in the transfer market.
Will things improve ahead of next weekend’s trip to Huddersfield? Benitez didn’t sound too hopeful as he conducted a downbeat post-match press conference yesterday afternoon, but there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic on two fronts.
Newcastle are closing in on a deal for Stoke City striker Joselu, with the Potters willing to accept a fee of around £5m for the Spaniard.
The Magpies have already had one bid turned down at the Britannia Stadium, but talks continue and a compromise agreement appears to be close. Joselu, who wasn’t in the squad for Stoke’s weekend defeat at Everton, spent last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, scoring five goals in 20 appearances for the La Liga side.
Newcastle also remain hopeful of tying up a season-long loan for Kenedy, even though the Brazilian midfielder was on the substitutes’ bench for Chelsea’s 3-2 defeat to Burnley on Saturday.
With Antonio Conte’s squad currently stretched, Kenedy has been promoted back into Chelsea’s first-team squad. However, with further signings anticipated at Stamford Bridge, he will still be allowed to leave on loan before the transfer window closes.
MIDDLESBROUGH
Garry Monk’s extensive summer rebuild began to bear fruit at the weekend as Middlesbrough got off the mark with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United – but the Boro boss isn’t finished yet.
He remains keen to make further additions, and after a series of discussions that have encompassed the majority of the summer, a deal for Birmingham City defender Ryan Shotton finally appears close.
Shotton, who was formerly with Stoke, is valued at around £3m, and Boro are increasingly confident of being able to pull off a deal for the versatile 28-year-old, who can play at either centre-half or right-back.
Birmingham boss Harry Redknapp does not want to lose Shotton until he has a replacement in place, but it is hoped there will be movement on that front in the next couple of days.
French newspaper L’Equipe have linked Boro with a potential move for Ingolstadt defender Marcel Tisserand, with the DR Congo having been instructed to train away from his team-mates as he looks to force through a move from his current employers.
There will be further departures from Middlesbrough before the transfer window closes, with Stewart Downing still in talks over a possible move to Birmingham.
SUNDERLAND
Simon Grayson has already proved adept at plucking players from the lower leagues, with James Vaughan’s performances since leaving Bury having been a key factor in Sunderland’s strong start to the season.
It is probably going to be a case of ‘one in, one out’ for Grayson in the remainder of the transfer window, but with the likes of Lamine Kone, Didier Ndong and Wahbi Khazri continuing to attract attention, the Black Cats boss is compiling a list of possible targets.
One of the names on that list is understood to be that of Lincoln City defender Sean Raggett, who scored the League Two club’s winner against Burnley in last season’s FA Cup.
Raggett, who is a towering centre-half that stands at 6’5’’, is valued at around £350,000 at Sincil Bank, and is expected to leave Lincoln before the end of the month.
The 23-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in League Two, and Grayson will be monitoring his situation closely in the next couple of weeks.
Meanwhile, Sunderland have confirmed their Carabao Cup second-round game at Carlisle United will take place on Tuesday, August 22 (7.45pm). The Black Cats have been allocated 1,500 tickets for the game at Brunton Park.
OTHER CLUBS
Jack Wilshere is a man in demand as it looks like his Arsenal days are numbered.
The England international, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, did not make the Gunners squad on the opening day of the season and could be set for a permanent exit.
It looks like he will have plenty of options to consider, with the Sun claiming Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are all interested in the 25-year-old.
Former Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann could leave Atletico Madrid this summer after all.
The France forward decided to stay with the Spanish club this summer due to their transfer ban.
But, according to Spanish outlet Don Balon, he could reverse that decision if the club sell goalkeeper Jan Oblak before the end of August.
Riyad Mahrez is no closer to a Leicester exit. The 2016 PFA Player of the Year has expressed his desire to leave the club but the Mirror reports the Foxes are refusing to accept less than £50m and will reject Roma's latest £31.8m offer.
Tottenham are pushing to add to their squad before the end of the transfer window. The Mirror claims Lazio forward Keita Balde and Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez are both targets.
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