NEWCASTLE

ARSENAL have confirmed the arrival of Chilean World Cup star Alexis Sanchez in a deal worth £30m from Barcelona and Mathieu Debuchy will soon follow suit.

The Magpies have effectively granted the Gunners permission to conclude the transfer for the French full-back and it could eventually be worth £12m – and now it’s about who replaces him.

That certain somebody looks set to be the Holland defender Daryl Janmaat, who was linked with a multi-million pound move to Manchester United at the beginning of the summer.

Now the Feyenoord man no longer appears to have the lure of Old Trafford in front of him and it is merely a battle between Newcastle and Italian club Serie A.

Newcastle are pretty confident but are not in a position to confirm his arrival at this stage. It would seem, though, only a matter of time before it is done and that will be news to the ears of manager Alan Pardew; not to mention the fans.

Transfer likelihood rating: 8/10

Many Newcastle supporters are getting more excited than they have in previous summers because this time they are actually making the noises and appear to be following them up with transfer success.

Jack Colback, Ayoze Perez, Siem De Jong and, by the looks of things, Janmaat. Who else? The Geordies dare to ask. It would seem the spending will not stop there and nor should it, the squad is still well short of numbers.

Up front remains the biggest problem facing the club and it was interesting to see Loic Remy – again – linked with a permanent switch to St James’ Park. Undeniably he had a fruitful loan spell from QPR and understandably Newcastle would like to keep him. That has been clear from day one.

But suddenly, having missed out on Bafetimbi Gomis and Pierre Michel Lasogga as well as finding Lyon difficult to budge for Alexandre Lacazette, Remy has come back in to the equation.

He remains a player who would prefer to play Champions League football and a return to Newcastle was never really in his thinking in May. Newcastle should take stock and move on.

Transfer likelihood rating: 5/10

SUNDERLAND

IT would be easy to write about Fabio Borini again and explain that there have been further talks with Liverpool over signing the Italian. So I won’t because we all know those discussions have been regular anyway.

Instead it is time to focus on Connor Wickham, the 21-year-old once wanted by Liverpool. Wickham’s future is uncertain this summer because he has entered the final year of his contract, so does that mean he will be sold?

Quite possibly, if a sizeable offer arrives on the table and Wickham outlines a desire not to sign an extension to the contract he has or reach an agreement over new terms. Sunderland do not want another Jack Colback on their hands do they?

Southampton are the latest club to be attracted by his situation and they are armed with substantial cash following the sales of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw.

Transfer likelihood rating: 5/10

MIDDLESBROUGH

And then there is that whole Lukas Jutkiewicz saga at Middlesbrough. It has gathered pace over the last 48 hours, with Burnley understood to be happy to pay the £1.5m valuation.

Jutkiewicz is happy to move on but it is all about where he would prefer to play. Bolton, Derby and Wolves are all keen but reluctant to match the fee being asked. Burnley have Premier League cash too, so he could well be attracted by a chance to shine in the top-flight.

Transfer likelihood rating: 8/10