The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has released an update on the Toon transfer front and…well…it’s a pretty sobering one to put it mildly.
It features six players who’ve been heavily linked over the last few weeks – Dean Henderson, Hugo Ekitike, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Nathan Ake, Sven Botman and Moussa Diaby.
Starting with Henderson, Edwards states that ‘senior sources’ at the club have strongly denied constant rumours linking the Man Utd goalkeeper with a move to St James’ Park, insisting he won’t be arriving this summer despite being ‘admired’ by some on Tyneside.
Then to Ekitike, the North-East reporter admits that a fee has been agreed with Reims, but there is “still a lot of work to do” before he’ll be in a position to sign due to an issue over agent fees and a ‘suspicion someone is still trying to sell the teenager to other clubs in Europe.’
That said, it’s believed he is still ‘likely’ to sign in the next fortnight, with the club also planning to submit a formal bid for Calvert-Lewin. The report insists that Everton aren’t keen to sell the England international to a direct rival and say things ‘have not advanced’ as a result, but it’s hoped the player will push for a move if and when we submit an offer.
As for centre-backs, Edwards says that Ake has become a priority target alongside Botman, but both are proving “difficult” to sign, with us struggling to agree a fee with Lille and Man City demanding £50m – a price we are unwilling to pay for the former Bournemouth man Howe is a ‘big fan’ of.
Last but not least, it seems inflated fees are also causing problems in our pursuit of Diaby. As revealed in the report, Bayer Leverkusen are believed to be demanding £60m for the Frenchman, meaning we’ll be forced to look elsewhere if they refuse to budge.
Another rubbish article from a man so up his own backside he’s almost turned himself inside out.
Edwards is a joke another of his articles is about how we need to move players out to thin the squad .. What no really you don’t say and he gets paid for this cutting edge guff he calls an exclusive.
The Ake link is lazy at best and the rest the same guy was saying they were done deals a few weeks ago.
Clueless
Porkpie(Quote)