JARROD BOWEN is Newcastle United’s number one target for their right-attacking role, with a major move for the England international planned for later in the transfer window.

With Paul Mitchell now installed as their new sporting director, the Magpies are taking a pause after the hectic dealing that enabled them to plug the gap on their Profit and Sustainability balance sheet at the end of last month.

Newcastle’s players will begin to return to pre-season training later this week, with the first full sessions due to take place at the start of next week, although a number of the club’s internationals will not be back in the fold until much later in the summer.

When it comes to transfer business, the Magpies hierarchy are turning their attention to potential incomings after sanctioning the departure of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson last month.

Newcastle’s priorities for the remainder of the window are the recruitment of a new right winger, another centre-half and a centre-forward, although the latter will be influenced by what happens to Callum Wilson, who is being linked with a move away from Tyneside after entering the final year of his current deal.

Having addressed their balance-sheet issues to comply with PSR, Newcastle should be able to spend a significant sum in the transfer market this summer, with the majority of their budget expected to be committed to the right-attacking role. If the Magpies successfully land one of their leading targets, Miguel Almiron could be sold, with a number of Saudi Arabian Pro League clubs continuing to harbour a strong interest in the Paraguayan.

Bowen is Newcastle’s preferred option for the right of their attack, and while West Ham have signalled their intention to do all they can to hold on to the 27-year-old, there is a belief within the corridors of power at St James’ Park that a deal could be possible.

READ MORE:

Bowen is contracted to West Ham until the summer of 2030, having recently signed a new long-term deal, and while there have been suggestions that the contract contains a release clause, that is not believed to be the case.

Nevertheless, Newcastle officials feel there is the potential for a deal given West Ham’s own transfer dealings and the fact that Bowen does not yet have a relationship with the club’s new manager, Julen Lopetegui. While neither Newcastle nor West Ham are in Europe next season, Newcastle’s recruitment team feel Bowen could be persuaded that the Magpies have a better chance of challenging for regular continental competition in the next few years than his current employers.

Reports have claimed that West Ham will demand more than £100m for Bowen, but that is regarded as fanciful within senior circles on Tyneside. There has been no formal contact between the two clubs yet, with Bowen still in Germany as part of England’s squad at Euro 2024, but that is set to change as the summer progresses.

Newcastle have alternative options, with Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga another long-term target. Elanga’s position was discussed as part of the conversations that resulted in Anderson moving to Nottingham Forest and Newcastle signing goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos last month. The talks did not reach an advanced stage, but they could be resurrected.

The Magpies have also been linked with Chelsea forward Noni Madueke, with the Blues engaged in yet another major overhaul of their squad this summer, and Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville, who is expected to leave Elland Road following last season’s failure to win promotion from the Championship.

An attempt to sign Michael Olise earlier this summer was unsuccessful, with the 22-year-old instead leaving Crystal Palace to join Bayern Munich.

Newcastle’s desire to sign another central defender to accompany Lloyd Kelly, who has already joined this summer as a free agent, stems from a need to plug the gap caused by the absence of Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, both of whom could miss the majority of the first half of the season as they recover from cruciate-ligament surgery.

AC Milan’s Malik Thiaw is an option being discussed, with Newcastle having scouted the 22-year-old Germany international on a number of occasions last season.