NEWCASTLE

Rafa Benitez expects a battle to keep Jamaal Lascelles on Tyneside this summer, with a growing number of admirers preparing a bid.

The Magpies are in a strong position because the player is keen to stay and is under contract, so just to consider selling the offer would have to be up towards the £50m valuation.

It is a whopping fee for a player who has only had one full season in the Premier league as a regular but his performances put him into England consideration.

Benitez is still waiting to hear what sort of funds will be made available this summer, and whatever the figure is it could well increase if Aleksandar Mitrovic is sold to Fulham for £15m at least.

The Newcastle manager does not want to lose too many members of the squad that delivered a top ten finish and he is looking to add to it rather than reduce.

Interest in Torino full-back Lorenzo de Silvestri has resurfaced and there has also been new reports in Sweden that Newcastle are keen on Djurgardens’ Kerim Mrabati.

De Silvestri is rated in the £10m bracket and if Benitez was to land the 30-year-old then it would be a sign he has persuaded Mike Ashley to let him sign more experience rather than potential.

SUNDERLAND

The appointment of Jack Ross as the club’s new manager now means that work will start immediately on shaping the squad for the first season in League One.

Ross is expected to be paraded in front of the media this week after returning from holiday and he will be looking at ways of making quick additions.

The 41-year-old has not had long to get his message across in terms of recruitment but he will be given plenty of freedom to make the decisions on that front.

And three players from north of the border have already been heavily linked, two of which play for his former club St Mirren.

Kyle Magennis, 19, was a key mover in the Buddies’ title winning midfield while 25-year-old Gavin Reilly, a former Hearts and Queen of the South player, scored 11 times.

A more expensive option is seen as Hibernian midfielder John McGinn. He is valued at around the £3m mark which is still a sizable fee for a League One side to oay out.

MIDDLESBROUGH

This summer promises to be another one where Ben Gibson will have to wait and see what the future holds.

Southampton and Everton are known to be two of the Premier League clubs keen on signing the 24-year-old following Boro’s failure to secure a return to the top-flight.

Gibson’s name is being mentioned by all of the clubs keen on signing a defender this summer, just as Newcastle’s Jamaal Lascelles is.

Middlesbrough do not have to sell and will not be in a rush to, but it will be interesting to see how they cope with an offer for the £25m-rated centre-back.

Tony Pulis, who has started a Tower to Tower charity challenge today from Paris to London, is considering his own options on the transfer front.

He has been credited with an interest in Bristol City defender Aden Flint, who was targeted by Garry Monk last summer when Middlesbrough signed Ryan SHotton instead.

Experienced Jon Walters is also under consideration after his admission that he would be happy to drop down to the Championship from the Premier League having failed to hold down place at Burnley.

OTHER CLUBS …

Liverpool plan fresh approach to sign Roma goalkeeper Alisson after Loris Karius' blunders.

Gareth Bale will not only have Premier League suitors if he decides he wants out of Real Madrid, with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich also keen on the Wales superstar.

Premier League new boys Cardiff City are considering a move for Watford striker Andre Gray.

Crystal Palace's cut-price contract offer to Yohan Cabaye could see the midfielder bolt for Marseille.

Swansea, West Brom and Stoke would all love Jack Grealish in their squads next season.

Manchester United and Manchester City have been eyeing up Danny Rose but have cooled their interest, paving the way for Everton to make a bid.

Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic favours a move to Manchester United. Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain are also keen on the 23-year-old, who is valued at £131m.