Milan interested in Mateta
AC Milan are keepings tabs on Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta.
According to Sky Sports, Milan have expressed an interest in Mateta.
The striker, who has also been linked with Manchester United, has two years left on his Palace contract.
The Frenchman would be valued at about £35million and the Eagles insist he is not for sale.
Gyokeres close to Arsenal move
Arsenal are close to reaching an agreement with Sporting Lisbon over Viktor Gyokeres.
According to Sky Sports, the Gunners and Sporting have agreed the fixed fee, which is at £55m.
The two sides are discussing the add-ons and the structure, which pose as the final details.
Gyokeres’ former club Coventry City are due around 10 per cent of any profit.
The same source claims a final deal is “so close”.
Eddie Howe’s ‘dream’
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe’s dream, having already added Alexander Isak’s Sweden team-mate Anthony Elanga to his attack, was to bring in Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitike to play with them.
Frankfurt rejected a £70million bid for Ekitike from Newcastle on Tuesday and are holding out for a figure closer to his £86m release clause.
Now the chase for the ace, who cost just £14m from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, is hotting up after Liverpool’s attempt to hijack the move.
As reported yesterday, Isak has not yet pushed for an exit but it is felt he would be keen on joining the Premier League champions.
And Toon chiefs feel that Liverpool’s public pursuit of him and Ekitike is part of a ploy to try and unsettle him and force Newcastle’s hand.
Though, as it stands, Isak is still expected to head back with the Magpies’ squad for their pre-season camp in Austria and face Celtic in a friendly at Parkhead on Saturday.
More on Ekitike
Newcastle star Alexander Isak was originally promised a new package by Newcastle’s former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
But one of the first decisions by now ex-sporting director Paul Mitchell last summer was to put those negotiations on ice – leaving both the hotshot and his camp disappointed over the previous regime’s commitment not being honoured.
The now-departed Mitchell, who was navigating Toon through tricky PSR waters, took the view Isak was already well paid on £130,000-a-week and that his future was secure due to being tied to the club until 2028.
Isak still produced on the pitch, firing Newcastle to their first major piece of silverware for 70 years and securing Champions League qualification, but there has been no progress since on whether he is willing to commit his long-term future to the club.
Though they are willing to smash their £150,000-a-week pay ceiling and make him the best-paid player with an annual package worth more than £10m-a-year.
Talks were planned for this summer but Liverpool’s interest threatens to throw a bomb into those plans – although manager Eddie Howe continues to dig his heels in and refuses to lose his talisman.
Hugo Ekitike war
Liverpool declared war on Newcastle after opening talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to snatch Hugo Ekitike from Toon’s clutches.
The Reds are ready to scupper the Magpies’ swoop for the French forward, 23, after being told top target Alexander Isak is not for sale at any price by the North East club.
Now Arne Slot is ready to make a power play and throw a grenade on Eddie Howe’s plans to break Newcastle’s transfer record and pair up Isak with Ekitike.
SunSport understands Liverpool officially approached German side Frankfurt today to begin discussions over a fee for Ekitike.
It’s the latest twist in the double transfer battle between the Merseyside giants and Newcastle.
And this latest development could potentially force Toon’s 25-year-old Swedish superstar into shelving negotiations for a new and improved contract at St James’ Park.
Morgan Gibbs-White saga
Tottenham and Nottingham Forest are engaged in a battle of brinkmanship over the latter’s star player Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest issued legal complaints to Spurs and Gibbs-White’s representatives after the latter thought they had triggered a £60million release clause to buy him.
The Tricky Trees are arguing they did not give permission to approach their playmaker.
They all cite breach of confidentiality of the release clause, given they did not tell Tottenham of its existence.
Forest are yet to take their formal complaint to the Premier League, who would be obliged to investigate any objection they receive.