Newcastle's Transfer Activity and Coaching Changes
The summer window is starting to boil, and Newcastle sit right at the eye of the storm.
Two Brazilians could yet define their month. According to the Daily Mail, Joelinton told the club shortly after last season that he wanted a move to Saudi Arabia. No bid has landed, no formal talks are underway, but the message from the player’s side is clear enough: he is open to going. For now, he stays at St James’ Park, a cornerstone of the midfield with a future that suddenly looks less secure.
At the same time, Newcastle’s rebuild is accelerating. A deal for Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek is close, with negotiations now focused on the payment structure rather than the principle of the transfer. The 24‑year‑old Czech, who has 88 senior appearances for Braga and was part of his country’s World Cup squad, has a £25.65m release clause. Newcastle see him as the long‑term successor to Nick Pope after missing out on James Trafford, and they are working through the final details to get it done.
They are also pushing higher up the pitch. The club have tracked Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli for weeks, sending scouts to watch the 24‑year‑old Morocco international at the back end of last season. Betis president Angel Haro has already admitted Abde is “not untouchable”, and Estadio Deportivo report that Newcastle have even told Betis they are willing to meet his £51.3m release clause. The move has hit a very modern snag: the player’s own ambitions. Abde is said to want Champions League football, which Newcastle cannot currently offer. Roma and others lurk, but for now the Premier League side lead the race without being able to close it.
The biggest change on Tyneside, though, will be in the dugout. TEAMtalk report that Newcastle have reached a full agreement to appoint Matthias Jaissle as their new head coach, with compensation of around £8m going to Al Ahli. The 38‑year‑old German is expected to join up with the squad at their La Manga training camp on Saturday, replacing Eddie Howe ahead of the new Premier League season. Earlier reports suggested Al‑Ahli would demand close to £9.4m, but Newcastle appear to have negotiated that down as they move into a new era.
Across Europe, other heavyweights are making their moves.
Bayer Leverkusen, fresh from a statement season in Germany, are closing in on Miguel Gutierrez. Italian reports say a deal with Napoli is in its final stages, with an agreement worth between £22m and £26m close. Leverkusen have improved their initial offer, and Napoli are ready to cash in on the Spanish left‑back after just one season to fund further business this summer.
Bournemouth have pulled off one of the more intriguing deals of the week. Antonio Silva has agreed a cut‑price transfer to the Cherries just hours after captaining boyhood club Benfica in a Europa League qualifier. The 22‑year‑old Portugal international is heading to the South Coast for a medical this weekend, having negotiated a move worth £25.7m. For a player of his profile and age, that figure will raise eyebrows across the continent.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have been hit off the pitch. The club have accepted a £10m fine and a suspended two‑window transfer ban after admitting breaches of FA rules relating to payments to agents and third parties between 2009 and 2022. An initial suspended six‑point deduction was overturned on appeal, sparing them an immediate sporting penalty. These breaches were self‑reported by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after their 2022 takeover, and the £10m is set to be invested into grassroots football.
On the grass, Stamford Bridge has a lighter subplot. Cole Palmer has warned close friend and new team‑mate Morgan Rogers he will “send the bailiffs round” if the winger leans too heavily on Palmer’s famous ice‑cold celebration. The pair, reunited at Chelsea after Rogers’ £117m switch, both use the shivering celebration. Palmer, who trademarked it last year, joked that while Rogers actually pulled it out first in a professional game, they will now simply do it together.
In Spain and the Netherlands, a surprise goalkeeping story is brewing. Marc‑Andre ter Stegen is closing in on a loan move to Ajax, with Spanish reports claiming he is set to leave Barcelona’s pre‑season camp to travel to Amsterdam and complete the deal. RAC1 report that Barça have agreed to cover 90 per cent of his wages during the loan, a remarkable concession to get the move over the line. The deal is now expected to be finalised soon.
Inter Milan are not done reshaping their midfield either. The Athletic report that the Serie A champions have returned for Curtis Jones, indicating they are prepared to pay up to £30m for the Liverpool midfielder after two previous approaches were rejected. Liverpool, though, value the 23‑year‑old closer to £43m. The gap in valuation remains significant, and this one may run.
In north London, Tottenham’s spending spree is far from over. Roberto De Zerbi has already overseen more than £230m of incoming transfers since saving Spurs from relegation last season, but he has promised fans another transfer “bomba” as he looks to build a fierce new forward line. Talks continue over Manchester City’s £60m‑rated Savinho, yet De Zerbi’s tease suggests an even bigger attacking move could be in play, with a striker and possibly another winger still on his wishlist.
Hull City are looking to strengthen for life in the Premier League. The newly promoted side have held positive talks over Augsburg midfielder Mert Komur, according to Florian Plettenberg. The 21‑year‑old Germany Under‑21 international has drawn interest from several clubs, but Hull are pushing to reach an agreement with the player’s camp. There is no deal between the clubs yet, though Augsburg have been informed of the discussions.
Coventry City are preparing to smash their transfer record. The Sky Blues have agreed an initial £22.5m fee with Brighton for goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, with further add‑ons potentially taking the total higher. Brighton have secured both a sell‑on clause and a buy‑back option. Rushworth was one of the Championship’s standout performers last season, playing every league game, keeping 17 clean sheets and helping Frank Lampard’s side win promotion.
Brentford are on the brink of adding more energy to their midfield. L’Equipe report that Lens’ Mamadou Sangare has already left the French club’s pre‑season tour in Italy to complete a move to west London. The 24‑year‑old fits the Bees’ profile perfectly: mobile, hungry, and ready to slot into a high‑intensity system.
At the very top end of the market, Manchester City are lining up one of the window’s biggest gambles. According to talkSPORT, City have reached an agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi and are now in advanced talks with Lille over the Morocco wonderkid. Lille want around £86m, though that figure could drop if City agree to loan the 18‑year‑old back for the season. Bouaddi, one of the breakout stars of the World Cup, has already attracted attention from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. City are moving to shut that door.
North London’s scouts have also been busy in Mexico. Arsenal and Spurs have both sent representatives to watch 19‑year‑old Guadalajara winger Hugo Camberos, according to Sport Witness. His father has made no secret of the player’s ambition to move to Europe. Barcelona are monitoring the Mexico youth international as well, adding another layer of intrigue to a rapidly growing chase.
West Ham, preparing for life in the Championship, are targeting Premier League experience out wide. The club retain a long‑standing interest in Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson, say ExWHUEmployee. The Hammers want a left‑sided attacker who knows the division, someone who can help drive an immediate promotion push. Nelson fits that brief and remains firmly on their radar.
They are also in talks with Celtic over midfielder Arne Engels. The 22‑year‑old Belgium international has caught the eye of several Premier League clubs after impressing in Scotland. Nottingham Forest saw multiple bids rejected for him on Deadline Day in January, but West Ham now lead the race. Engels has two years left on his Celtic deal, and the Scottish champions know they hold a valuable asset.
Elsewhere, the market for young forwards is heating up. Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Everton are all interested in Chelsea striker Liam Delap, according to The i. Chelsea are open to a sale and value the 22‑year‑old England Under‑21 international at between £35m and £40m. Clubs across the Premier League are weighing up whether that price matches his potential.
One major defensive saga is already over. John Stones has joined Inter Milan on a free transfer, signing a two‑year contract with the Italian champions after leaving Manchester City when his deal expired at the end of June. His exit ends a decade at the Etihad loaded with trophies. Since becoming a free agent, Stones drew interest from Chelsea and Juventus among others, but chose to start a new chapter in Serie A.
The window still has weeks to run, the rumours will only grow louder, and the money will keep moving. The question now is simple: which of these bold bets will look like bargains when the season kicks off, and which clubs will be left wondering what might have been?
