Sky Sports: Newcastle ‘Open Talks’ to Sign £76m Striker Alongside Aghehowa
Newcastle United could look to end their striker search hoodoo with a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, according to reports – with the Frenchman being in their sights after the Magpies ‘opened talks’ for his signature.
Attacking target Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig is the latest name to have snubbed the Tyneside outfit, adding to a growing list of players such as Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike among others. The quintet all joined differing Premier League rivals in a huge blow to Newcastle’s credentials as their Champions League preparations continue to take a massive hit with the season just a week away.
Sky Sports: Newcastle Have ‘Opened Talks’ to Sign Randal Kolo Muani
Randal Kolo Muani in action for Juventus
The report by Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg states that Newcastle have now opened negotiations with Kolo Muani – who PSG bought for £76million – over a potential move to St. James’ Park, after being let down in the race for various other striking options in the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old ‘complete’ attacker is ‘high’ on their shortlist after a move for Sesko fell through, with the Slovenian instead set to join Manchester United – and although Newcastle are also exploring other options, he is a concrete target for Eddie Howe alongside Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.
There is also the added fear that Alexander Isak may leave, with the Swedish star having announced his intentions to leave the St. James’ Park outfit, and with Liverpool interested, it may well be that the club opt for both Kolo Muani and Aghehowa, having already lost Callum Wilson on a free transfer to West Ham United this summer after letting his contract run out.
Kolo Muani hasn’t been given a fair chance at PSG, resulting in a loan move to Juventus in the January transfer window – and he took off with eight goals in his time in Turin, reinstating himself as one of the best strikers on the continent. That, alongside regular France outings, means that he could be the perfect addition on Tyneside as either a rotation option or a replacement for Isak.
The Magpies finished fifth last season in the top-flight, guaranteeing a place at Europe’s top table as well as winning their first piece of silverware in 70 years via the League Cup – but additions will be key to moving forward in their quest to win the top-flight title or at least consistently qualify for Europe’s biggest competition which would see them grow in stature.
£40m Maddison alternative keen to join Tottenham after direct talks with Frank
Tottenham have stepped up their pursuit of a number 10 after James Maddison’s serious knee injury, with the club confirming some very bad news on Thursday.
The England international is now set to undergo surgery on a ruptured ACL, which is expected to keep him out for the majority of 2025/2026 – dealing a major blow to Thomas Frank ahead of his first full season in charge.
| Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025 | Average match rating |
|---|---|
| Son Heung-min | 7.00 |
| James Maddison | 6.98 |
| Pedro Porro | 6.95 |
| Dominic Solanke | 6.84 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | 6.83 |
| via WhoScored | |
Frank watched on from the sidelines as his Spurs side were thrashed 4-0 by Bayern Munich on Thursday, and while it’s important not to read too much into pre-season, the Lilywhites looked bereft of ideas in Bavaria.
The trouncing occurred almost immediately after Tottenham confirmed the dreadful news about Maddison, and supporters are very keen to see chairman Daniel Levy swiftly enter the market for a new playmaker.
The 28-year-old joins Dejan Kulusevski, who was also sidelined with a serious knee injury earlier this year, on the sidelines – with Tottenham now minus two key creators.
FFC Spurs – James Maddison
Club legend Son Heung-min drew the curtain on his 10-year stay in north London with an MLS record-breaking £20 million move to Los Angeles FC earlier this week too, following an emotional goodbye in Seoul – further emphasising the need for Levy to bring in another attacker.
According to recent reports, Spurs are wasting no time in trying to find a man who can help to fill the voids left by Maddison, Kulusevski and Son.
Sky Italia reporter, Gianluca Di Marzio, claims that Tottenham have already had a £35 million bid rejected for Como starlet Nico Paz, while it is also believed that Spurs made contact over signing top Everton target Jack Grealish in the last few days (Fabrizio Romano).
Liverpool attacker Harvey Elliott, who’s attracting serious interest from the Bundesliga after his stellar Euro Under-21 campaign with England, has been mooted as a potential target as well.
Harvey Elliott keen to join Tottenham after direct talks with Thomas Frank
Despite RB Leipzig’s advancing pursuit of the 22-year-old (Florian Plettenberg), Football Transfers have shared that Spurs are not completely out of the race just yet.
