Transfer gossip: Newcastle ‘willing’ to sell ASM; Depay update bad news for Chelsea

Jason Soutar
Transfer Gossip - Allan Saint-Maximin in action

Allan Saint-Maximin might be a favourite on Tyneside, but Newcastle are ‘willing’ to sell him. This, plus why Memphis Depay’s transfer to Juventus spells danger for Chelsea.

 

MAGPIES OPEN TO SAINT-MAXIMIN SALE
Newcastle’s pursuit of a ‘top-class’ forward means they are ‘willing’ to sell top-class forward Allan Saint-Maximin, according to the not-so-reliable Football Insider.

Perhaps the Magpies hierarchy are looking to balance the books a bit as they are struggling to spend due to Financial Fair Play and all of the players in their squad worth a decent amount have just joined the club or are called Allan.

If Newcastle ‘land one of their top targets’, Eddie Howe can let the French winger leave, with the Geordies in the market for ‘one, possibly two’ new attackers.

Saint-Maximin is a tricky player who gets fans off their seat, but his end product is seen as a problem having not scored in the Premier League since January.

£40million will be enough for Newcastle to sell, but who are they currently in the market for?

They are reportedly ‘leading the race’ for Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos and are also interested in Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak.

 

NDOMBELE CLOSE TO SPURS EXIT
Tottenham’s transfer business has been excellent this summer, bringing in Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence, Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison, but Antonio Conte is focused on getting some deadwood out the door.

Conte wants rid of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Harry Winks, and the departure of Lo Celso is close, while Ndombele has admirers.

Napoli are one team interested in signing the French midfielder – who cost Spurs around £65m in 2019 and has been a gargantuan flop.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the Italian club have reached an agreement with Spurs to sign Ndombele on loan for the season.

The deal is close to being finalised and will include a buy option, which is excellent news for Conte and Spurs.

Napoli are now working on personal terms with the 25-year-old with Fabian Ruiz reportedly off to Paris Saint-Germain, with Keylor Navas linked with a move the other way.

 

MEMPHIS TO JUVENTUS = BAD FOR CHELSEA
There is interest in both Memphis Depay and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with reports suggesting Barcelona don’t want to sell both players, but would happily see one of them leave this summer.

Aubameyang has been linked with Chelsea as the Blues seek some attacking reinforcements, while Juventus want to sign Memphis.

The latter is expected to leave for free with a year left on his contract, meanwhile, Barcelona want as much as €25m for Aubameyang, which Chelsea are unsurprisingly unwilling to pay for a 33-year-old with a history of misdemeanours.

According to Mundo Deportivo journalist Ferran Martinez, Juventus are ‘very close’ to reaching a full agreement for the signing of Depay.

This is not great news for Chelsea, who were hoping to land Aubameyang for no more than €13m.

Martinez reckons Barca will only listen to a ‘big offer’ for the ex-Arsenal captain, with Depay’s exit making his sale unnecessary.

Having said that, this is FC Barcelona, and if they get offered a few quid they’ll probably cave and sell Aubameyang.

Chelsea are in dire need of attacking reinforcements having sold Timo Werner and loaned out Romelu Lukaku – but will they fork out around £20m to sign Aubameyang? Who knows…

 

FUN’S OVER, FOLKS
Staying with Barcelona; they have registered all but one of their unregistered players ahead of their La Liga opener this weekend.

They have been bailed out by another financial lever as their bizarre transfer window continues.

While the prospect of their summer signings not being able to play for their new club was quite an amusing thought, I think everyone knew this would not happen.

Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto – who penned new contracts this summer – have been registered, as have new signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie.

The one player left in the cold? Jules Kounde.

Football Transfer Gossip Allan Saint-maximin

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