Newcastle United may have had a poor season by the standards they set in 2022/23, but they have not lost the boldness which came with that season.
Backed by the financial muscle of the Saudi Arabia PIF-led consortium, the Magpies are targeting a number of key players to strengthen their team and get back to challenging for the title and European competitions skits.
Two of their main transfer targets are also on Liverpool’s radar and stories suggest that the Magpies could outbid the Reds for both players. Both players are Federico Chiesa and Crysencio Summerville, who the Reds are hoping to sign as they prepare to overhaul their attack.
The Italian, currently on contract with Juventus, has pushed any talks of his future until after the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament. “My goal is always to return to the top. I’m 26 years old, there’s time and I’d like to demonstrate what I’m made of in this European Championship,” he said before Italy’s opening day win against Albania.
Summerville on the other hand, is enjoying a holiday after spending all season being the EFL Championship’s standout player with Leeds United, but is wondering where he will play next season.
Liverpool have long been interested in Chiesa but their interest in Summerville is a little more recent. The Magpies could go into battle with the Reds and other European heavyweights like Napoli, AC Milan and Bayern Munich.
For Summerville, meanwhile, West Ham United as well as Brighton and Hove Albion are the only clubs that are interested in Summerville at the moment alongside Liverpool.
The player will cost around £35 million but Leeds United have put it out there that the transfer will be done on their terms if it is to happen. This means that they could ask for more, thanks to the player’s demand in the market.
Having been turned down by both Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan and Ferran Torres of Barcelona, they will be working to make sure that one or both of these targets do not slip through their grasp.
Meanwhile, the Magpies are exploring the possibility of snapping up Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez for next season.
Gimenez has been one of the high flyers in the Dutch Eredivisie and many eyes have been on him. Newcastle’s claim to the Mexican is Yankuba Minteh, their signing from last summer who was sent on loan to Feyenoord.
The Dutch side want to keep the Gambian for another season after his impressive season with them. Newcastle United could use Minteh as a bargaining chip for Gimenez.
More updates as the stories develop.
