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Our verdict on the latest Premier League transfer rumours, featuring news from Newcastle, Spurs, Crystal Palace and Arsenal.
Welcome to the weekend – and, of course, to Saturday’s edition of our daily digest of the biggest and boldest Premier League transfer rumours currently doing the media rounds. Today, we’re kicking things off a story fresh from St. James’ Park.
According to Caught Offside, Newcastle United have been monitoring Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané – more familiar to English fans from his stint at Manchester City, of course – and now they believe that they can sign him providing one condition is met. Meeting that condition may be easier said than done, however.
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German journalist Christian Falk is the source for this story, and he reckons that Sané would only consider moving to a Champions League side, meaning that top four is a must if Eddie Howe wants to get his hands on the Germany international. That may not be the only problem, however, because the Magpies would have to “pay a lot money” to make the deal happen, and although a possible transfer fee isn’t specified it’s claimed that it could be more than Newcastle could afford.
The 3AM Verdict: Newcastle have been after a new winger to replace Miguel Almirón for some time now and Sané would certainly be a high-calibre option to aim for. We’re not sure we agree that price will be a problem, however, because the last time we checked the German’s contract expires at the end of the season. Perhaps he has some especially meaty wage demands.
Spurs ready to haggle over Palace man
Our next story isn’t a new one by any means but there is a fresh detail that’s worth reporting, and some information about a possible alternative – and it concerns Tottenham Hotspur’s long-rumoured pursuit of Crystal Palace and England attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze, who Spurs wanted to sign in the summer.
Are Newcastle top four contenders? Watch The Premier League Panel to find out what our experts think.
Price proved to be a problem, with a release clause of £68m being to steep, but according to TeamTalk the North London club are set to return to the negotiating table because they not believe they can sign him for less, with a deal in the £50-60m range looking plausible. Antoine Semenyo could be a £33m target as well, while apparently both Spurs and Arsenal are also chasing a deal for Benfica centre-back Tomás Araújo.
The 3AM Verdict: The initial source for the story about Spurs believing they can make a reduced bid for Eze is Football Insider, which is not noted for accuracy, but in any case this is hardly such a big discount as to be worth crowing about. The amplified claim that Spurs are after Semenyo, which we’ve mentioned before in this digest, could be more interesting.
Decision made over Arsenal midfielder’s future
Finally, some news from over at the Emirates – just a day after we reported on rumours that Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey could be on his way out of Arsenal amid interest from La Liga, TBR Football now claim that a decision has been made to offer him a brand new contract.
The 31-year-old’s deal was set to expire at the end of the season and it was broadly expected that he would be on his way, but he is now “likely to be rewarded” for his form so far this season. The article also mentions old reports of potential interest from Saudi Arabia, but apparently the player was never keen.
The 3AM Verdict: The midfielder has been important part of Arsenal’s squad with Mikel Merino out injured of late, and that has clearly persuaded the Gunners to keep their man for the long term. With Jorginho slowing down as well, it only makes economic sense to keep Partey around as a back-up going forward.