Newcastle United are pushing again to strike a deal for Jesse Lingard after missing out on the signing of promising Reims forward Hugo Ekitike.
The Magpies would be content with their January business even if a deal for Manchester United midfielder Lingard proves impossible, and will bolster their defensive ranks with an £11m move for Dan Burn of Brighton and a loan deal for Aston Villa’s Matt Targett, who will add competition at left-back.
But Lingard would make up for the disappointment of missing out on Ekitike, the 19-year-old striker who has opted to stay in France despite significant overtures from the Magpies.
As reported by i on Sunday, the deal for Lingard was still on the table heading into deadline day and it would enable the Magpies to sign off an impressive month with a flourish.
More from Football
Lingard is keen to sign for Newcastle or West Ham, who have also made an offer, and has the green light from Ralf Rangnick to leave but Manchester United are undecided about letting him go.
They were demanding a £12m bonus if Newcastle stay up on top of other conditions and while the Magpies have tweaked the terms on offer, they are nowhere near that. It is still a very substantial financial package on offer and there are suggestions from sources close to the deal the Red Devils may be prepared to accept less than that.
Lingard simply wants to play and sees the Newcastle offer – especially given their impressive business in January – as an attractive one. If the club stay up, he would be likely to commit his future past the end of the campaign.
Newcastle would benefit from more firepower with Chris Wood and Dwight Gayle their only senior strikers as Callum Wilson recovers from injury until March.
More on Newcastle United FC
Newcastle set to pass £100m January spend with Bruno done and still hope for Lingard deal30 January, 2022
Tension, talks and transfers going down to the wire – inside Newcastle’s frantic window27 January, 2022
How Bruno Guimaraes could fit in at Newcastle - and his best position explained27 January, 2022They had hoped to add another forward but sources in France say deadline day target Ekitike, dubbed the “next Kylian Mbappe” for his emergence in Ligue 1, has opted to stay at his current club amid concerns about whether he will get enough regular first-team football to continue his development.
Newcastle always faced a race against time to secure that deal with new Brexit rules leaving the club with a mountain of paperwork to complete before the 11pm deadline. They had struck the framework of a deal with Reims which would have been worth around £20m.
The Magpies had put together a development plan for him and his entourage to show he would have a path to becoming a first team regular but it appears he will now stay in France.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/gaOYJVBLk
Post a Comment