A round up of all of today’s news & gossip:
- Sky Sports have confirmed that West Ham are planning a move to take Rafa Benitez from Newcastle United – also claiming that co-owner David Sullivan remains on ‘good terms’ with the 58-year-old – Full story here.
- According to the London Evening Standard, Rafa Benitez would be willing to move south and sign for West Ham if they ‘present the right package’ – claiming that he’s looking for an £80m budget at NUFC but is not receiving the assurances he needs from Mike Ashle – Full story here.
- After confirming his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cup, Gareth Southgate made an unbelievable attempt to explain why he failed to include Jonjo Shelvey today – stating that the midfielder’s style of play didn’t fit into his plans – Full story here.
- The Sun also claim that Mike Ashley’s £400m valuation could ‘effectively take the club off the market” – stating that Amanda Staveley is close to ending her interest as a result – Full story here.
- Back on the Benitez front, and we have looked at the likely theory behind Rafa’s potential talks with West Ham – well worth a read for those worried he could be about to swap NUFC for the Hammers – Read full piece here.
- According to reports in Germany, Newcastle have made an offer to sign highly-rated defender Josha Vagnoman – only for the player to reject a move in favour of remaining with recently relegated side, Hamburg – Full story here.
- The Chronicle have confirmed that Rafa Benitez will sell Chancel Mbemba this summer – and he could be off to Celtic, with claims that Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign him for the Scottish Champions – Full story here.
- Alan Shearer believes Jonjo Shelvey should’ve been in Southgate’s 23-man squad to give us ‘something a bit different’, but admits that it’s ‘pretty much as expected’ that England ignored him despite his superb form – Full story here.
- And finally, less than 12 months on from his decision to turn down Benitez and NUC in favour of a loan move to Swansea, it’s fair to say Tammy Abraham got it horribly wrong – and so did Lee Trundle, who had a lot to say about his decision this time last year – Read his laughable comments here.
