Sports
Newcastle Still Tracking Long Term Striker Target
According to The Athletic, Newcastle are long-term admirers of Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak as they continue to track the Swedish international while they look to add depth to their forward options.
The Magpies are looking at other forwards following the collapse of the Hugo Ekitike deal.
Steve Nickson, who is head of recruitment for The Magpies, has been tracking Isak for years and continues to do so as his name is repeatedly brought up in recruitment meetings.
The 22-year-old didn’t have his best campaign in La Liga last season as he only netted 6 times in 32 appearances. The 20/21 season was his best goal-scoring season to date after scoring 17 times in 34 games and attracted interest from footballing giants like Real Madrid.
Isak has also been a top performer for his country, earning 37 caps and scoring 9 goals at just 22 years old. He has often led the line with one of the greatest strikers of all time, Zlatan Ibrahimović.
In an ideal world Callum Wilson will be leading the line week in week out for The Magpies, but the former Bournemouth striker has had rotton luck with injuries since his arrival at St James’ Park.
Chris Wood is yet to get going in a black and white shirt since joining from Burnley in January, with a return of just 2 goals from 17 Premier League appearences.
Other names that have been mentioned are Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a possible return to the North East for Brentford’s Ivan Toney. Both of which have proved they can score goals in the Premier League. However, it is belived that fees north of £50,000,000 are required for both of them, meaning Isak could provide a more realistic alternative.
With Calvert-Lewin, Isak and Ekitike all being 6ft plus its clear what type of striker The Toon are looking to bring in. All of them are young, athletic and hold a strong physical presence.
Wilson and Wood will both turn 31 next season, meaning the club are in need of a younger striker who can play 30 plus games a season.
Newcastle will be restricted to what they can spend on a new striker with Financial Fair Play having an impact on how much The Toon can spend this summer.
The Magpies spent £94,000,000 in January on the likes of; Bruno Guimarães, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood and loan fees for Matt Target.
Sportsmail have reported that Newcastle have a budget of 60-80 million plus player sales this summer. Eddie Howe has already brought in Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Matt Target this window.
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Newcastle United boss wants to extend the contracts of two players before losing them.
Eddie Howe has expressed in a recent fan Q&A his intentions to keep two out of contract players this summer, Loris Karius and Paul Dummett, according to the Athletic’s Chris Waugh, with both players current contracts set to end this summer.
6 players are currently set to become out of contract come June 1st, Loris Karius, Paul Dummet, Mark Gillespie, Matt Ritchie, Matty Longstaff and Ciaran Clark. However, it is only Karius and Dummett that appear to be safe of getting the chop.
Loris Karius has spent this season as Newcastle United’s third choice keeper, with only one appearance coming in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Final. Despite the loss, Karius did little wrong and contributed some wonderful saves late on in that game.
Paul Dummett has had the same treatment, with only one appearance coming his way, a Carabao Cup tie in the second round against Tranmere Rovers back in August. The 31-year-old Welshman is an experienced head and will no doubt have great respect within the dressing room having signed for the club back in 2012 making 205 appearances in that time.
Both players can expect new contracts from Eddie Howe as he has made it known that he wants them both to remain at the club next season.
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10 players Eddie Howe could look towards with contracts expiring at the end of this season.
The free agent’s market is the absolute cheat code for clubs across the board, being able to avoid the rising transfer fees and getting players through the door through verbal agreements makes life much easier for clubs during the transfer window.
We have compiled a list of 10 free transfers NUFC could sign this summer from Europe’s top five leagues giving them a rating of the potential of them signing and the impact they would have.
- Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)
The 29-year-old full back has his contract expiring this summer and with NUFC already being hinted at as his potential new club, this one is worth keeping an eye on over the next few months. He would slot straight in at left-back to have healthy competition for fan favourite Dan Burn and add a burst of class and pace to that left hand side. The Portugal international already has an impressive CV and would be looking to show that off to the St. James faithful.
Potential – A
Impact – A
- Yerry Mina (Everton)
With Everton potentially facing the drop this season, a jump from Merseyside to Newcastle could suit the centre back to a T. The 28-year-old Columbian international would add to NUFC’s already in form back line and bring some South American heat as they look to progress further next season. Mina possesses dominance, aggression, and a great ariel threat and would be a top addition to the magpies this summer.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Jonathan Bamba (Lille)
An explosive winger who made his name known as Lille snatched the league title in 2021 in France, the 26-year-old is still yet to receive a contract extension from the club and could be looking elsewhere in the summer. Adding pace, flair, and drive to an already exciting front three for NUFC could be what fans need going into next season.
Potential – C
Impact – A
- Youri Tielemans (Leicester City)
Reportedly being close to leaving in the summer window of 2022, Youri Tielemans would be a fine addition to NUFC’s midfield being able to operate in a slightly deeper role to allow Bruno to push further up the field and do what he does best. The 25-year-old has his contract expiring this summer and with him and James Maddison already being linked to the club, this transfer seems to make so much more sense and would add heaps of quality to the centre of the field.
Potential – B
Impact – A
- Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Drive, power, and flair are the 3 best words to describe Crystal Palace star man Wilfried Zaha. The 30-year-old could be looking to depart his beloved club in the hope for European football next season and NUFC could be just the place for him. Being able to operate either on the left or down the middle, Zaha would thrive under Eddie Howe and be a fantastic addition to the front line.
Potential – B
Impact – A
A Sunderland football player on loan to Lincoln FC has had his loan terminated after he was charged with rape.
Jack Diamond, 23, had been arrested after a sexual assault in Washington, Tyne and Wear, last year.
Northumbria Police launched an investigation, but have now charged him with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Lincoln City FC said the player’s loan contract had been terminated “with immediate effect”.
His home club, Sunderland AFC, said he had been suspended pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
In a statement, it said: “Sunderland AFC has been notified that criminal charges have been brought against Jack Diamond by the Crown Prosecution Service.”
“As this matter is subject to a legal process, the club will not be making any further statement at this time”.
The incident is alleged to have happened in May last year.
Mr Diamond, of Fatfield, also Washington, is due to appear before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court in May.
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