MIDDLESBROUGH
GARRY Monk is ready to return with a fresh bid to lure Derby County’s Cyrus Christie after missing out on Reading defender Chris Gunter.
Boro had triggered the £1m release clause in Gunter’s contract but the Welshman, in typical modern football fashion, has decided to sign a new three-year deal with the Royals instead.
Monk had been confident of landing Gunter, so now he is considering alternatives and is known to be keen on Derby’s Christie.
TARGET: Cyrus Christie
Middlesbrough also face a big fight for top striker target Britt Assombolonga. Premier League club Burnley have had an £8m bid for the Nottingham Forest striker rejected by the Championship side.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 30 goals in 47 starts for Forest, previously worked with Clarets manager Sean Dyche at Watford. Forest are unlikely to allow their leading scorer last season to leave the club for anything less than £10m.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
THERE’S a familiar name back in the frame for Newcastle fans to imagine spearheading their attack again next season – with talk of a record breaking bid.
Reports in Portugal are suggesting the Magpies have made an incredible £35m offer for Sporting Lisbon striker Bas Dost.
The 28-year-old was a 6ft 5in player regularly targeted by former chief scout Graham Carr during his time at Wolfsburg. He only moved to Sporting last year for £8.7m and the Portuguese club inserted a €60m clause into his contract.
RECORD BID: Bas Dost
Now Newcastle, who tried to sign him for £9m a couple of years ago after scoring 48 goals in 117 games in the Bundesliga, have rekindled their interest with reports they are prepared to smash the club record £16m fee paid for Michael Owen in 2005.
There has been interest shown from Rafael Benitez in Hull’s midfielder Sam Clucas, who impressed during his first season in the Premier League. The Tigers are looking for between £8-10m for the 26-year-old.
SUNDERLAND
On Wearside there will be positive transfer news today. Sunderland are set to confirm the arrivals of Everton duo Ty Browning and Brendan Galloway this morning.
The pair have been undergoing medicals ahead of completing season long loan moves to the Stadium of Light, where they will become Simon Grayson’s first two signings since taking over.
BHOY: Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady
The two defenders will be followed by Aiden McGeady from Goodison Park. A £2m deal for the winger could also go through today although there is a little more work to be done on that so there might be a delay before confirmation arrives. They could be available to face Bury on Friday.
Sunderland will then look to add another defender or two, as well as a couple of strikers.
OTHER CLUBS
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been left out of the club's pre-season tour of the United States and will complete a move back to Everton this week.
GOING HOME: Wayne Rooney during his Everton days
Rooney will be allowed to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer with Everton paying him his current £250,000 a week wages.
Rooney could form a new-look strikeforce at Goodison with Olivier Giroud also reporting that he is set to join the Toffees from Arsenal in a £20m deal to replace Romelu Lukaku, who is set to rejoin Chelsea in a £90m deal.
The Independent writes that Manchester United will make a final push to bring Alvaro Morata to Old Trafford. Manager Jose Mourinho has become frustrated with the lack of new faces at the club but Real Madrid are holding out for their £72m asking price. Mourinho wants his squad complete before getting on the plane for the US and so far only Victor Lindelof has arrived at the club.
Roma defender Antonio Rudiger has arrived in London to complete a £36m move to Chelsea. The Blues have beaten off a bid by Manchester City for the Germany international and Rudiger will undergo a medical before the deal, for an initial £31m with £5m in add-ons, is completed.
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