NEWCASTLE
With four days of the transfer window to go, it’s safe to say Newcastle United are in a state of flux. Actually, a state of huge uncertainty would be a much more fitting description.
It’s conceivable that the Magpies could see six or seven players leave before the window closes on Thursday night, with three or four players coming in to replace them. And that’s before we even get to the ongoing speculation linking manager Rafael Benitez with a possible move to West Ham.
The one cast-iron development to have emerged in the last 24 hours is Siem de Jong’s departure to Ajax. De Jong’s unsuccessful St James’ Park spell is over, with Ajax having agreed a deal for the Dutch midfielder.
The Dutch media are quoting a fee of around £4m, although a chunk of that is likely to be performance-related. For context, Newcastle paid around £7m to sign de Jong back in 2014.
In terms of other possible departures, Tim Krul is the subject of mounting interest from PSV Eindhoven, with a potential swap deal involving Jeroen Zoet having been mooted. Achraf Lazaar has been linked with a couple of clubs in Italy, while Grant Hanley, Jack Colback and Henri Saivet are also being actively touted around.
Might Dwight Gayle leave? It’s possible, although Newcastle will want at least £10m for the striker, whose chequered injury record became a major issue in the second half of last season.
Who might come in before the window closes? A loan deal for Chelsea youngster Kenedy remains on the table, while Newcastle continue to make inquiries about Inter Milan forward Stevan Jovetic.
The Magpies have also expressed an interest in Independiente’s Nicolas Tagliafeco, with the £4m-rated defender having been earmarked for their problematic left-back position.
MIDDLESBROUGH
The big question relating to Middlesbrough in the final few days of the transfer window is ‘What is going to happen to Ben Gibson?’ Boro continue to insist that the answer is ‘Nothing’, but is there a price at which it would be impossible to reject an offer?
Half the Premier League seem to be looking for a centre-half, with Virgil van Dijk and Jonny Evans in huge demand. Once one or both move, the dominoes will start to settle, and Boro could find themselves having to fend off bids of up to £30m from the likes of Liverpool, Leicester, Southampton or West Brom.
The other potential departures before the window closes are Adama Traore, with French clubs Lyon and Lille both keen to sign the winger, and Stewart Downing, who remains available for sale despite his recent return to the first-team fold.
Boro identified the two targets they want to bring in quite a while ago, but deals for Ryan Shotton and Jota remain difficult to complete.
Shotton has been on the verge of leaving Birmingham for weeks, but Harry Redknapp is still to give the move his blessing and he continues to search for a replacement.
Brentford turned down Boro’s initial £4.5m bid for Jota, and the Teessiders are still pondering whether to improve their offer. They face competition from Fulham, with the Cottagers having made a move of their own over the weekend.
SUNDERLAND
Could two or three high-profile departures spark Sunderland back into life before the transfer window swings shut on Thursday night?
As things stand, Simon Grayson does really have the ammunition to mount a meaningful move in the transfer market, but that would change if Lamine Kone, Didier Ndong or Wahbi Kharzi were to leave in the next few days.
Kone was linked with a possible return to France over the weekend, although it is doubtful that clubs in Ligue 1 would be either willing or able to pay the kind of sums that Sunderland are demanding.
Ndong is the subject of interest from West Ham, while Khazri could also leave despite taking to social media to spell out his continued commitment to the Black Cats.
“Since my arrival in Sunderland, I am proud to wear the colors (sic) of the jersey,” said Khazri on Instagram. “I have always invested 100%. I love football and the enthusiasm it brings.
“It is true that during my last interview I expressed my desire to leave, because following my year pass that as you all know, was very difficult for me and for the club.
“Today I need to play football, as for you it is also my passion, and like any passion it is difficult to do without it, so yes I am listening to sports project however I wanted to said (sic) that it remains a difficult choice for me because I like to be a Sunderland (player) contrary to what has been said about me, I am far from being demotivated and I would always fight for my team.
“I would always have respect for the club and its supporters who welcomed me and never gave up even in difficulty.”
Who might come into the Stadium of Light? Grayson remains a huge fan of Jordan Hugill, but Preston turned down an £8m offer from Reading for the striker and remain adamant they do not want to sell.
Ross McCormack on loan from Aston Villa? A deal remains possible, but Villa remain reluctant to fund the Scottish striker’s wages if he moves away from Villa Park.
OTHER CLUBS
Frank de Boer is fighting for his job as Crystal Palace manager, according to the Guardian.
The Eagles have lost the first three Premier League games under the Dutchman's guidance and the board are not impressed.
Kylian Mbappe’s future could finally be decided, with a move to Paris St Germain agreed.
French newspaper L'Equipe is claiming that a loan deal has been agreed for the highly-regarded Monaco striker, with the option to buy for £166m.
The Daily Mail writes that Spanish club Las Palmas are chasing Chelsea's forgotten man Loic Remy.
Staying at Stamford Bridge and the Blues will renew their pursuit of Swansea striker Fernando Llorente, according to the Independent.
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