NEWCASTLE

Salomon Rondon still looks the likeliest new striker arrival at Newcastle United.

The West Brom front-man is high in Rafa Benitez’s thinking and knows that he can get him on Tyneside by triggering the £16.5m release clause following the Baggies’ relegation.

That deal can be done pretty swiftly and Benitez is keen to have a new striker in before the trip to Ireland next week.

Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen has re-emerged on the Newcastle radar as an option too after the Dutch club reduced the asking price for him.

But hopes of landing £27m-rated Alassane Plea from Nice have taken a hit because Borussia Monchengladbach are edging closer to the asking price. Newcastle have only offered £18m.

Benitez is set to lose Mikel Merino though. The midfielder is on his way to Real Sociedad after they offered the £10m release clause and the player is keen to head back to Spain.

SUNDERLAND

Preston striker Eoin Doyle has jumped to the top of the list of attacking options for Sunderland boss Jack Ross.

Doyle has been unable to make his mark at Deepdale but has a proven record for scoring goals from spells with Oldham, Chesterfield and Hibernian.

It is with Hibernian that Ross first got to know about him and after missing out on a couple of attacking options he is ready to make a move for him. Preston are willing to let him go too.

The majority of Sunderland’s recruitment has been done but Ross still envisages that he will be bringing in four other new players at least – a lot could depend on who else leaves.

Wahbi Khazri is closing in on a move to St Etienne while Didier Ndong is interesting Atalanta.

Young Sunderland player Sam Greenwood, however, has joined Arsenal – even though he was wanted on Wearside.

The teenager has scored plenty goals for the academy and was offered a new deal but Arsenal have moved in. Sunderland will be due some compensation because he is under the age of 24.

MIDDLESBROUGH

There is fresh talk that Everton are ready to swoop for Ben Gibson.

The Toffees are looking for new players following the appointment of Marco Silva and adding a new defender to the ranks is high importance.

Gibson and Swansea’s Alfie Mawson, two players currently in the Championship, are on Silva’s target list so Middlesbrough are expecting an offer to arrive soon.

Gibson has been in Austria with the Middlesbrough squad but missed the friendly defeat to Sturm Graz with a slight injury.

Adama Traore figure in that game but his future remains unclear.

Middlesbrough do not want to lose the Spaniard but their hand could be forced if a club offers the release clause in his contract, which is speculated to be around the £18m mark.

Huddersfield and Wolves are pushing for his signature at this stage although there has also been interest in him from the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle.

OTHER CLUBS …

West Ham are close to signing Jack Wilshere on a three-year deal after holding talks with the former Arsenal midfielder.

Former Juventus CEO Luciano Moggi claims Ronaldo's switch from Real Madrid is done.

Liverpool are yet to make an approach for Xherdan Shaqiri but remain interested in the Stoke star.

Tottenham have won the race for Jack Grealish who is waiting for Spurs to firm up their interest with an irresistible bid.

Everton have rejected a bid worth around £12m from RB Leipzig for Ademola Lookman.

Wolves are trying to finalise a fee worth up to £16m to sign Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko.