So exciting - England International midfielder on Newcastle shortlist. Match made in heaven

Reports has come out of Newcastle Utd shortlist of transfer targets for the summer and there are some hugely exciting names on it. Alexander Isak, Darwin Nunez but also a midfielder who would be perfect for the club.



England International Kalvin Phillips is almost certain to leave Leeds in the summer, even if the Yorkshire club stay up, and Newcastle could be fighting hard for his signature.

According to The Mail, the 'Yorkshire Pirlo' is one of many targets the Magpies will be looking to bring in to bolster their midfield as well the likes of Yves Bissouma at Brighton.

Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock have formed an effective threesome this season in midfield, with Bruno Guimaraes also coming in and performing well.


However, if the like of Kalvin Phillips is available the club would be wise to invest in such a quality player to help the club go up a level or two. Jonjo and Willock are good but they aren't as good as Phillips. I personally am begging we sign him!

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Wow - Newcastle to make huge move for La Liga wonderkid striker this summer?!

Newcastle scouting team have lined up a shortlist of targets this summer and some of the names are getting fans extremely excited.



According to The Mail, the club are looking at positions all over the pitch including goalkeepers such as Leno and Dean Henderson but the Magpies really want to sign a superstar striker.

One name on the list they will look to target is Real Sociedad wonderkid Alexander Isak. The young Swede is one of Europes most sought after talents and it would be a huge statement from the club.

Other names lined up are Calvert-Lewin and Darwin Nunez as Newcastle just can't rely on Callum Wilson fitness and Chris Wood has only scored one goal since signing in January, which isn't good enough.

Alexander Isak is lightning quick, skillful and a competent finisher with bags of potential to improve into a world class operator. If the club go all out this one could be a game changer...!


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Ranked: Top 5 Frenchman to play for NUFC - No.1 may surprise you

Newcastle Utd have had their fair share of French talent show up at St James' Park from maverick wingers to midfield maestros. But who was the best? Here is my top 5...

5. Yohan Cabaye


Dreamboat had a bad moment on Tyneside by declaring he wanted to move to Arsenal, which derailed the team for short while, but there can be no doubting his ability. He was a key man as soon as he came over from Lille in the summer of 2011. Slotting in next to Cheick Tiote to form a formidable central midfield partnership to help us finish 5th in his first season.

Pardew sold the move to him by telling him we would be our "quarterback" and he didn't disappoint. One of the most gifted centre midfielders we've ever had, he went onto perform well for France at a major tournament and got a his big move to PSG. That didn't work out, however, and found himself at Crystal Palace as his career drifted to a poor end. The grass isn't always greener...


4. Laurent Robert


What a left peg on this kid. There was nothing sweeter than watching Laurent Robert tip-toeing up to a dead ball before absolutely bulldozing it towards, and often into, the goal. His free-kicks were absolutely deadly. His delivery from set plays was a key aspect of the clubs' success from 2001 to 2005. Champions League football arrived as did deep runs in the cups via Uefa Cup and FA Cup semi-finals.

He, typically, had his issues with the fanbase and his managers by his maverick attitude and was seen as lazy at times. Often being dropped from the starting lineup for Hugo Viana or from the squad completely. Graeme Souness once dragging off the team bus before a game because of some negative comments in the media. Robert was a pure highlight reel player. So, enjoy him.



3. Allan Saint-Maximin


ASM is absolutely electric every time he gets the ball. There is no one who can carry the ball as far and beat opposition players like him in the Premier League. In full flow, he is simply unstoppable. Too powerful, too skillful, too fast. He can tear any defence apart on his day.

Recently he has had a fair share of criticism for his lack of effort off the ball and rumoured issues off the pitch but I guess this comes with the territory with maverick French wingers. They just think differently.

The mercurial Frenchman has 5 goals and 3 assists in the Premier League which isn't bad but he can do more. Hopefully, he can put any doubts of his commitment to thec cause to bed and finish the 2021/22 season strong. He can achieve great things at Newcastle in our new era and just ask others, if you leave, the grass isn't always greener somewhere else.


2. David Ginola


David was absolutely magic on Tyneside. He took the club to a new level in the 95/96 season helping the club go 12 points clear at the top of the league. For those initial 6 months he was unplayable, forming an unstoppable link up with another new signing Les Ferdinand.

Unfortunately, Ginola's form dipped at the end of that campaign, along with Ferdinand, and the 12 point cushion was eventually cut and surpassed by Man Utd. He wanted to move to Barcelona in the summer of 1997 after just one season here but Keegan refused. This may have effected the Frenchman as he was very hot and cold that season before being sold to Spurs. Talented, magnificent, adored. Merci beaucoup.


1. Hatem Ben Arfa


Some French players may have scored more goals for Newcastle, they may have achieved more in the game, they may have a better reputation but Benny was the most talented player I have ever seen play in the Black and White stripes.

Ben Arfa was a pure unfiltered talent. He was a joy to watch and you were excited every single time he got the ball at his feet. We were blessed to have him and you only wish Pardew wasn't his manager to ruin his time here and use him as a sacrificial lamb to attempt to hide his own failings. After going six games without a win, Benny told 'Pards' what he thought and that was that.

His dribbling was unmatched, he could strike the ball like a dream with both feet and some of the goals he scored for Newcastle are the best goals we as fans will ever see. The Bolton and Blackburn goals were breathtaking, not even Messi could have scored them as they were full of high risk which is something Lionel doesn't do.

I have no doubt other fans will have Ginola or Robert as their number one, but for me, Benny was the boy. I love him and have followed his career after he left us, which is something I never did with the others. J'adore Benny.




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Newcastle to finally get Jesse Lingard? - confirmed leaving Man Utd for free!

Jesse Lingard looked set to join Newcastle Utd on loan from Man Utd on Deadline Day of the January transfer window, but the Red Devils refused to sanction the deal. JLingz is now expected to leave for free and Newcastle will very likely be waiting with an offer.


Transfer king pin Fabrizio Romano has confirmed on his twitter account that Jesse Lingard, along with Juan Mata and Edison Cavani, will not be offered new contracts to stay at Old Trafford and will leave the club for free.


This is fully expected, as far as Lingard is concerned, as he has barely featured for the red half of Manchester and was angry at not being allowed to move to St James' Park on Deadline Day.

He will have his suitors in the summer which is expected to include West Ham as well as other PL clubs and some offers from abroad but Newcastle may be he no.1 choice of destination.

Their is a new era just beginning on Tyneside and if the club have their hearts set on Jesse it could be a match made in heaven. The side could do with another attacking midfielder/winger and Lingard fits the bill.


His wages and signing on fee won't be cheap but with no transfer fee involved it could be a smart piece of business by Amanda Staveley and the Newcastle owners as they look to spend their new found PIF backed war chest on players.

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Newcastle to make move for £60m Darwin Nunez in summer window?!

Newcastle Utd are looking to bring in a number of new players in the summer transfer window, once they stay up, and a new centre forward is one of the priorities. Many names have been mentioned and one that doesn't go away is Benfica hit man Darwin Nunez.


It has been reported previously in i that the Magpies have been heavily monitoring the Uruguayan, who has 20 goals to his name this season, and could be the star striker Eddie Howe craves.

Chris Wood has done OK since coming in without scoring many goals and Callum Wilson fitness issues means a new centre forward must be a target in the summer transfer window.

Nunez at £60m would be some hefty investment but could be just what Newcastle need to kick on to bigger and brighter things. He has an impressive conversion rate and Newcastle owners will have competition for his signature.


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Barcelona 'world class' talent tipped to join Newcastle for free in the summer!

Newcastle will stay up this season, there is no way the likes of Burnley or Watford will overtake them with only 9 games or so left of the season. With this, the newly PIF-backed club are expected to make some big moves in the transfer market and a Barcelona man may be in their sites.

Ousmane Dembele has had his issues with the Catalan club recently and they tried to sell him in January, with Newcastle heavily linked, however, since then he has been in the first team and showing some good form. He has created 2.3 chances per game in La Liga and has provided eight big chances for his teammates.


According to AS, Dembele will leave Barcelona and PSG are the front runners to capture the Frenchman signature but if Newcastle want him to kick start their new era and make a big statement, they can afford to offer the ex-Borussia Dortmund man the wages he may demand and rival the Qatar wealth backed Parisians.

PSG manager Pochettino is expected to leave PSG and Leonardo days as Sporting Director are rumoured to be numbered, so there may by a different approach at the Stade de France and it isn't exactly guaranteed Dembele will start for them with the depth of their squad. Even if Mbappe leaves.


Newcastle United targeting new £250k-a-week goalkeeper - Dubravka days numbered?

It is guaranteed to be a busy summer transfer window for Newcastle Utd and one position they are potentially looking to strengthen is the goalkeeper. Martin Dubravka isn't a bad 'keeper but he is prone to mistakes and letting in soft goals, so if the right man becomes available, 'Dubs' days as No.1 could be over.

Below are some of the names being linked with a summer move to St James' Park but would they be a significant improvement on Dubravka between the sticks?

Bernd Leno


The Arsenal man is firmly No.2 at the Emirates Stadium after the North London club spent £25 million bringing in Aaron Ramsdale, after he was relegated with Sheffield Utd. At first it looked a strange move but he has flourished under Mikel Arteta and the German stopper Leno looks firmly sat on the bench.

It could be a smart move for him to join the new era at Newcastle Utd and would be an improvement on Dubravka. He is a good shot stopper and is confident playing out from the back which isn't a huge strength of Dubravka.

Eddie Howe will look to use his goalkeeper next season to contribute with quality distribution and Bernd Leno could fit the bill. With just one year remaining on his contract The Magpies can look to take advantage and grab the 30 year old at a very reasonable price.


Dean Henderson


Another ex-Sheffield Utd man finds himself as No.2 at his club in the form of Dean Henderson. The England international (kind of) was expected to be taking over from David De Gea by now but through the Spaniard form sky rocketing and 'Hendo' putting in a few dodgy performances last season, his career has stalled.

A move to Newcastle has been all over the gossip columns since the Saudi takeover of the club but would he be an improvement on Dubravka. I personally have my doubts but a loan move could be the best option for Newcastle and the player to see if he fits the bill. If not, there is no harm done.

At just 25 years old, there is plenty of years left in the English shot stopper, however, Henderson only signed a new 5 year contract in Aug 2020 worth a staggering £120k a week! So you wouldn't expect him to be a cheap acquisition if Newcastle decide they want to sign him permanently.


Jan Oblak


One of the more ambitious names being linked to NUFC is that of Atletico Madrid No.1 Jan Oblak. Once considered the best goalkeeper in the world, it would be some statement if he arrived on Tyneside this summer. I think this one is fanciful at best but if the player wants a move to the Premier League we are one of the few clubs that could accommodate him.

Liverpool have Alisson, City have Ederson, Chelsea have Mendy, Man Utd have De Gea, Arsenal have Ramsdale. The only other club that would potentially want him that could afford his wages are Spurs, as Lloris isn't getting any younger. Oblak is on £250k a week! But again, it would come down to the player whether he wants to stay in Spain or try a rainy night away game at Selhurst Park.

The huge positive for Newcastle is Oblak only has one year left on his contract, so Atletico may look to cash in while they can and bring in a younger replacement. At 29 years old, Jan Oblak could be a dream signing for Eddie Howe and the new regime. I wouldn't put money on it, but maybe Kieran Trippier can put a good word in...

Kepa Arrizabalaga


The apparent penalty shootout prince is very much No.2 at Chelsea and was set to be loaned out last summer but eventailly stayed at Stamford Bridge. This gut cost Chelsea £72 million back in 2018 and it's safe to say, he hasn't hit the height that they were expecting. To have already replaced him with Eduaord Mendy pretty much makes this a huge flop.

Would we want Kepa at SJP? I honestly don't see why. For me, the Chelsea scouts got this one wrong. He isn't a great shot stopper, he doesn't command his area and his distribution isn't high class either. It's almost as if Chelsea looked at a slim young Spanish goalkeeper and assumed he would develop into David De Gea.

Well, it isn't as straight forward as that and I can't see why we would ship out hefty wages to bring him in to witness his glaring mistakes first hand. A loan move may be a risk free option but I can't see the point. Maybe I will end up being proved wrong and he reaches a very high level in the next few years but I'm gonna say no, not for me Clive.



Conclusion

We may end up not signing any of the above or bring someone in not even mentioned, however, if I had to sum up my thoughts:

Oblak - the dream, Leno or Henderson - the reality, Kepa - the nightmare.

Let's wait and see. Looking forward to finding out though! HWTL!

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