Transfer Round-Up: Sunderland interested in Man Utd defender, Middlesbrough targeting midfield alternatives, Turkish interest in Newcastle defender

A summer of wholesale change at the Stadium of Light has begun with the arrival of Turkish defender Alim Ozturk, who will officially join the Black Cats as a free agent on January 1.

However, Ozturk’s signing will just be the first of a host of deals that are expected to go through in the next few weeks as Jack Ross overhauls the squad he inherited on Wearside.

Sunderland’s defence will be a key area of change, with Ross needing at least two or three more defenders to bring his squad back to an acceptable level.

John O’Shea and Marc Wilson were released as free agents at the end of last season, Tyias Browning and Jake Clarke-Salter returned to their parent clubs at the end of their respective loan deals, and Lamine Kone and Bryan Oviedo are also expected to leave before the transfer window closes.

Sunderland remain interested in central defender Clark Robertson, whose Blackpool contract is due to expire at the end of the month. The Black Cats have offered him a deal, but Championship duo Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic have also talked terms with Robertson and his representatives. Blackpool have also offered the 24-year-old a new deal to remain at Bloomfield Road.

Former Hartlepool defender Jack Baldwin is another defender who features prominently on Ross’ wanted list after he was placed on the transfer list at Peterborough, while Manchester United youngster Cameron Borthwick-Jackson has also been touted as a possible loan target.

Borthwick-Jackson has spent time at Leeds United and Wolves recently, and Sunderland have inquired about the possibility of taking him into League One for the next 12 months.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Middlesbrough are assessing alternative midfield options after pulling out of a deal for Sunderland midfielder Paddy McNair.

As exclusively revealed on The Northern Echo website last night, Boro have withdrawn their £5m offer for McNair after becoming frustrated at the way in which the midfielder has been touted around to alternative suitors despite Sunderland agreeing a fee with the Teessiders.

Stoke have matched Boro’s offer and now appear to be in pole position to sign McNair, although Brighton remain interested, having had a £3.5m offer rejected earlier this month.

With McNair off the agenda, Boro will pursue alternative targets in the next few days, with Everton’s Mo Besic remaining a live option.

Besic had a successful spell on loan at the Riverside in the second half of last season, although new Everton boss Marco Silva is still to decide whether he wants to sell the Bosnian.

Ideally, Tony Pulis wants to sign an attacking midfielder who can provide a goal threat next season. With Adam Clayton, Jonny Howson and Grant Leadbitter in the squad, the defensive side of Boro’s midfield blend is sorted. Pulis’ aim in the next few weeks is to sign a player who can play slightly higher up the pitch.

NEWCASTLE

Chancel Mbemba has been in talks with Porto, but the Portuguese side could yet find themselves facing stiff competition from Turkey as they look to land the centre-half.

Newcastle have agreed a fee with Porto to sell the DR Congo international, but Trabzonspor have been in touch with the Magpies to signal their intention of matching the Portugal club’s approach.

Trabzonspor officials are hoping to speak to Mbemba and his representatives in the next 24 hours, and feel they have a good chance of persuading the defender to snub Portugal in order to move to the Turkish top-flight.

Newcastle do not mind where Mbemba ends up provided he moves for a price they deem to be acceptable, but Rafael Benitez would like a sale to be completed as quickly as possible to enable him to start stepping up his own recruitment drive.

Andros Townsend remains a leading target, and sources in London have suggested that Crystal Palace are ready to consider selling the England international.

Newcastle officials have contacted the Eagles to confirm their interest in re-signing Townsend this summer, having sold him when his £13m relegation release clause was triggered two summers ago.

Palace are likely to demand around £20m for Townsend, but Newcastle will hope to negotiate a slightly lower price if they pay the whole of the fee up front.

OTHER CLUBS

Maurizio Sarri is plotting a four-man raid on former club Napoli if he is made the new Chelsea boss, according to reports.

Striker Dries Mertens, winger Jose Maria Callejon, full-back Elseid Hysaj and defender Raul Albiol have been linked as transfer targets if Sarri ends up in Antonio Conte's office.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Serie A runners-up want to put a limit on how many players he could take with him to Stamford Bridge.

The paper says it would cost in excess of £70m to bring four of his former players to West London. According to the Daily Mail, Sarri is also eyeing Matias Vecino, Inter Milan's Uruguay midfielder.

Meanwhile Chelsea are yet to make any announcement on what the future holds for Conte, who is reportedly on holiday in southern Italy.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also set to take on Barcelona in the race to sign Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic, The Sun reports. Former Juve director Luciano Moggi told the Serie A champions' news site, Il Bianconero, that the Bosnia and Herzegovina international could end up at Stamford Bridge in a deal worth £70m.

With Sarri's appointment expected to be announced as early as next week, a number of signings could follow. The Blues' managerial situation is said to have put any transfer announcements on hold until it is resolved.

Arsenal have kicked off talks to sign Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega, the Metro says. The Argentina international's agent is said to have flown in to London for negotiations.

Banega, 29, is the latest name to crop up as a transfer target for new Gunners boss Unai Emery as he rings the changes ahead of his first season. The departures of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla have given the Spaniard cause to search for talent to bolster his options.

Banega, who turns 30 this month, and Emery have worked together before at Valencia and Sevilla. There is a €20m (£17.5m) release clause in Banega's contract, which expires in two years, the paper says.

Inter Milan are leading the chase to snap up Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele, the Daily Mirror reports.

Entering the final 12 months of his contract, the Belgium international has said that loyalty to Spurs means he would not join another Premier League club.

He is expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer. Tottenham are said to be willing to entertain offers for the £30m-rated playmaker, who turns 31 in July.

Manchester City's hopes to land Riyad Mahrez have been given a fillip by Leicester's apparent interest in Basel's Mohamed Elyounoussi, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The Foxes are said to have identified the Norway international as a replacement for the want-away Algerian whose potential transfer to City reportedly collapsed in January over price.