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The latest transfer talk from St James Park as Newcastle United prepare for the January transfer window.

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Newcastle United have been linked with a move that has been described as one of Ligue 1’s ‘surprise packages’ so far this season - and reports have suggested the Magpies have already been told how much his current club will demand before they will authorise a sale.

The Magpies are believed to be keen to add to their defensive ranks during the January transfer window as a number of decisions lie in wait over several current members of Eddie Howe’s squad. United have taken up an option to extend Dan Burn’s contract until the end of next season and he will continue to compete with Sven Botman for a place in Howe’s side when the Dutch centre-back returns from a long-term knee injury later this month. However, fellow defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar are out of contract at the end of the season and, as it stands, will leave St James Park next summer.

Lascelles is still making his way back from a knee injury that will keep him on the sidelines until late January - but Schar has continued to play a key role in Howe’s side and the Magpies manager has already indicated he would like to ensure the Swiss star’s time on Tyneside is extended by at least another season.

Speaking last week, Howe said: “With Fabian, just speaking from my behalf, he's been incredible for me. I have to say he has been absolutely sensational with some of the performances he's delivered. He's an integral part of what we're doing. His use of the ball is well known, his technical qualities and defensively he's been very strong for us. Yes, he's an important player and we'd love to keep him.”

The possibility of adding another defender to the Magpies squad in January remains a possibility and there have been links with the likes of Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi and Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini in recent weeks. The Telegraph have reported Lens youngster Abdukodir Khusanov is the latest name to be reported as a Magpies target after the 16-times capped Uzbekistan international impressed for the Ligue 1 club after joining them in a cut-price deal from Energetik during the summer of 2023. After making 15 appearances in all competitions during his first season in France, the 20-year-old has already made 13 appearances during the current campaign as his side sit on the fringes of the battle for a place in European competition.

The report suggests Tottenham Hotspur have also watched the young centre-back in action this season and revealed Lens will demand a fee of around £25m before they will consider the sale of one of their prize assets.

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The latest transfer talk from Newcastle United as the Magpies prepare for the January transfer window.

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A reported Newcastle United transfer target is said to be preparing to make a major decision over his future during the first two months of the new year.

The Magpies are believed to be looking to strengthen their defensive ranks during the January transfer window after spending the entirety of the 2024/25 season with Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Lloyd Kelly as their only natural options at the heart of Eddie Howe’s defence. Despite centre-back duo Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman working their way back towards full fitness after suffering long-term injuries, another defender is believed to be on the agenda and the Magpies still retain an interest in Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi after making a number of unsuccessful offers for the England international during the summer.

Germany star Jonathan Tah has also been linked with a move to Tyneside in recent months as he prepares to enter the final six months of his current deal in the new year - and there has been a major update on how the Bayer Leverkusen defender views his future.

A report in Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has claimed the ‘only certain thing’ about Tah’s future is that he will not accept any contract offer from Leverkusen, despite the reigning Bundesliga champions being keen to extend his time with the club. The report also suggests the defender has not yet made a firm decision over where his next move may lie and wants to wait until the new year when he will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of Germany before making a free transfer switch at the end of the season.

The experienced defender has been linked with Newcastle on several occasions over the last year and TBR Football reported the Magpies and Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur had all ‘opened talks’ with the defender and confirmed a move to the Premier League could be in the offing next summer. However the latest report in Spain has suggested there is strong interest from La Liga with reigning champions Real Madrid keen to partner Tah with fellow Germany international Antonio Rudiger after David Alaba and Eder Militao both suffered injuries.

Barcelona are also named as a possible suitor as head coach Hansi Flick looks to reunite with a player he worked with during his time in charge of Germany and Bayern Munich are said to be willing to offer Tah a chance to remain in the Bundesliga.

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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancu has been hit with a ban from the Football Association - but is still at risk of a further suspension.

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Bentancur has been hit with a seven-game ban after a controversial remark about his Spurs teammate Son Heung Min. In an interview on Uruguayan television, Bentancur suggested all South Korean people ‘look the same’.

On Canal 10, Bentancur was asked to display the shirt of a Spurs player, to which he replied (translated from Spanish): “Sonny’s? It could be Sonny’s cousin too as they all look the same.”

The 27-year-old quickly apologised and admitted it was ‘a very bad joke’. Bentancur’s apology was seemingly accepted by Son, who expressed his ‘love’ for the midfielder.

“I love him, I love him, there is no problem,” Son said when asked about Bentancur during a press conference.

The Uruguay international was hit by an FA charge back in September for ‘misconduct in relation to a media interview’. An independent regulatory commission panel have now found Bentancur guilty of an ‘aggravated breach’ of the rules and handed him a seven-match domestic ban over the festive period.

It will see Bentancur miss matches against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League as well as Manchester United in the Carabao Cup. He will be able to play in the Europa League matches against Roma and Rangers.

Bentancur will be back available for the match against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day. Just over a week after that, Spurs host Newcastle United in their first league match of 2025.

While Bentancur’s ban will be up by then, there is still a chance he could miss the match against Newcastle due to suspension. That is because Premier League rules state that any player who picks up five bookings before the 20th match of the league season will be handed a one-match ban.

As things stand, the match will be Spurs’ and Newcastle’s 20th game of the season so any player who picks up their fifth booking of the season in the game prior will be suspended for the match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With Bentancur on four bookings already this season, he must avoid picking up another booking on his return against Forest or the following match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in order to escape a further ban. Spurs defender Micky van de Ven is also at risk of suspension with four bookings to his name but will likely serve his ban before the Newcastle game.

After the 19th game of the season, the threshold for bookings moves to 10 after 32 games and a two-match ban. A player booked for the fifth time on the 19th game of the season is handed a one-match ban despite the cut-off.

Another player from Spurs at risk of suspension is Dejan Kulusevski, who has three bookings. Yves Bissouma, Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie each have two bookings and would need to pick up another three by the end of the Wolves match in order to be suspended.

Newcastle also have several players at risk of suspension in the coming weeks. Dan Burn will serve his five-yellow suspension next time out against West Ham United while Fabian Schar and Joelinton are just one booking away from a one-match ban.

Lewis Hall and Sandro Tonali have three yellow cards so far this season while Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff have two.

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David Ginola has opened up about his reluctant exit from Newcastle United in 1997.

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Ginola made a dazzling impact on Tyneside after joining Newcastle from Paris Saint-Germain for £2.5million in 1995. 75 appearances, two second-place Premier League finishes and seven goals later, Ginola was sold to Tottenham Hotspur.

The move came about following Kevin Keegan’s exit and Kenny Dalglish’s appointment at St James’ Park. Ginola would continue to impress at Spurs, winning League Cup and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year during the 1998-99 season.

Reflecting on his Newcastle exit in a new book about ‘The Entertainers’, Ginola said: "I didn’t want to leave the club but when Kenny Dalglish took over from Kevin it was a shock and it just wasn’t the same anymore. I argued with Kenny and he didn’t play me much after that.

"He tried to get rid of all the foreign players Kevin signed. I was frustrated at the time and I said something in the newspapers that if things don’t change, I will have to leave.

“The following day we had a row. He told me I couldn’t go to the newspapers and say these things. I said, ‘You treat me like I’m having an affair with your wife.’

"He said, ‘How dare you talk to me like that.’ I said, ‘At least I’m talking. You never look at me or talk to me.’ He wasn’t the guy to take us to the top, as it was proved. He didn’t make the most of the players we had.

"Under Kevin, it was such a pleasure every day in training and every Saturday away and at St James’ Park, where the atmosphere was magnificent. I miss those days. One day, those happy days will return."

Ginola’s view that Dalglish wouldn’t take Newcastle ‘to the top’ was ultimately correct as he led the club to a 13th place finish in his first full season in charge. It was the first time The Magpies had failed to finish in the top six in the Premier League since being promoted in 1993.

Dalglish was dismissed after a winless start to the 1998-99 season.

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Newcastle United and Tottenham have joined the race to sign one of the Championship’s most highly-rated stars

Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough are believed to be doing everything they possibly can to retain the services of Hayden Hackney amid reports of interest from Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The England U21 international is enjoying a sensational season, which has seen him play every minute of his side’s 11 games in the Championship this campaign. The Redcar-born footballer is a defensive midfielder by trade that is renowned for his ability to read the game, control possession and create chances from deeper areas of the pitch.

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However, this season he has also proved he is capable of chipping in with goals after scoring against both Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion.

“Hayden Hackney plays like his manager Michael Carrick – with or without Middlesbrough, he appears destined for the top,” said the Athletic’s Nancy Frostick.

Hackney has been a part of the Middlesbrough academy since the age of 10, and after a successful loan spell at Scunthorpe United was promoted to the first team shortly after Carrick’s appointment. Since the start of the 2022/23 season, he has racked up 64 Championship appearances while also notably being a part of the team which defied the odds to reach the Carabao Cup semi-final last term.

Hackney netted the winner against Chelsea in the first leg against the Blues last season in a 1-0 victory but was unable to help his team to victory in the second leg as they fell to a 6-1 defeat. The 22-year-old has long been considered one of the top midfielders in the Championship, who according to Give Me Sport has been earmarked by both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur as a player that could easily make the jump up to the top-flight in the near future.

He is currently under contract until 2027 and is reportedly earning a salary of around £6,500 a week, which both Premier League club’s would easily be able to improve. However, Carrick insists the £25m rated youngster is not for sale. Give Me Sport adds that the Teeside club would be reluctant to losing one of their prized assets midway through the season.

Newcastle already have a stacked midfield containing Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Sean Longstaff. However, there has been talk in recent days claiming that the Newcastle coaching staff could consider offers for Joe Willock due to frustration with the 25-year-old’s recent form.

“He’s adding to his game all the time and he’s having a good spell at the moment, you can see that,” Carrick told The Yorkshire Post earlier this month. “That level of confidence and personality, he doesn’t say an awful lot but shows personality when he’s on the pitch. We are trying to help him, develop him and improve his level – as a midfielder it can be dangerous chasing goals and next opportunities, but that will come with good play. He got the decisions spot on and he arrived at the right time to get his goal off the back of good play.”

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One former Newcastle United assistant manager is reportedly on the brink of losing his current job.

A former Newcastle United coach has been told he has one game to save his job after his currently club made an abysmal start to the season.

Just over nine years have passed since former Valencia coach Ian Cathro was named as assistant manager by then-Magpies boss Steve McClaren after forging a strong reputation for himself during his time with the La Liga outfit. The Scot remained at St James Park when McClaren was replaced by Rafa Benitez but stepped into the lead role in the dugout in December 2016 when he accepted a position as head coach of Scottish Premiership club Hearts.

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After an unsuccessful spell at Tynecastle, Cathro was reunited with former Valencia head coach Nuno Espirito Santo when he was named as first-team coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers before following the Portuguese boss to Tottenham Hotspur and Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. However, Cathro struck out on his own once again when he landed a managerial role with Portuguese club Estoril during the summer.

Cathro’s new side scored just one goal in their opening four games of the season as they fell to defeats against Santa Clara and Vitoria Guimaraes before battling to goalless draws against Gil Vicente and Boavista. There seemed to be a positive upturn when Cathro earned the first win of his reign as a first-half goal from Joao Carvalho helped his side to a 1-0 home victory against Nacional and the former Magpies coach admitted there were still improvements to be made in the aftermath of the game.

He said: "Just like us, the fans also want to see us playing better, and that is what we always strive for – to play as well as possible and improve every day. There are moments in football when we must prioritize certain aspects. A victory in the early stages of the league is very important, and I prefer to value our understanding of the moment and the commitment of the players during the match. We can say it wasn't pretty, but we achieved our goal, which was to win."

However, a 2-2 draw at Cathro’s former club Rio Ave and consecutive defeats against Sporting CP and Farense have reportedly left the Scot at risk of losing his job after his side slipped to just one point and one place above the Primeira Liga relegation zone. Matters went from bad to worse for Cathro when his side laboured to a goalless draw in a Portuguese Cup tie with fourth tier club Lusitano Evora before being dumped out of the competition with a penalty shoot-out defeat.

Portuguese news outlet A Bola have now claimed the Estoril board of directors are now considering Cathro’s future and have suggested anything other than a win against Arouca this weekend would see the Scot’s short-lived managerial reign brought to an end.

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Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Newcastle United co-owner Jamie Reuben reunited at a charity event in London this week.

It comes after Ghodoussi left Newcastle alongside Amanda Staveley in July with their remaining share split between the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Reuben’s RB Sports & Media, who now hold a 15% stake in the club as a result.

The pair were in attendance at the Centrepoint Awards and Gala Dinner 2024 at the British Museum on Wednesday evening. Centrepoint is a charity aimed at tackling youth homelessness.

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The charity’s patron since 2005, William, Prince of Wales, also attended the event along with several other high-profile figures.

During the event, Ghodoussi took to social media, tagging Reuben in a picture of musical artist Rag’n’Bone Man performing at the British Museum. Reuben is the co-chair of Centrepoint’s dynamic Growth Board and has helped open the ‘Reuben House’ - a development of 33 brand new flats for the charity. Following the departure of Staveley and Ghodoussi, Newcastle appointed South Shields-born property manager Roger Thornton to the club’s board. Thornton has strong links working with the Reuben family on developments across Newcastle.

Meanwhile, Staveley and Ghodoussi have been linked with a major investment in Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Ghodoussi was recently seen in the director’s box at Chelsea but has also been a VIP guest of Daniel Levy at Tottenham Hotspur.

Staveley has also been spotted in the VIP box at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent weeks.

And the former Newcastle co-owner has strongly suggested that she will be looking to invest in other football clubs.

“Very sadly, we have to move on to other projects and that might involve us taking a stake in another club or buying another club and that’s difficult,” she told The Athletic. “But it’s possible.”

Discussing the possibility of future investment in Spurs, chairman Levy said: “Some form of minority investment is what we're looking for. We've got nothing to announce at the moment but we are in the market."

Staveley is regarded as the driving force behind the Newcastle takeover that finally went through in October 2021. At the time, Spurs and Levy were understood to be one of the clubs very much against the takeover.

In the first full season after the takeover, Newcastle finished above Spurs for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign.

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Former Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has been linked with buying a stake in Tottenham Hotspur.

Staveley, along with her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi, left Newcastle United during the summer after just-shy of three years at the club. After their departures were confirmed, Staveley revealed to the Athletic that they may return to football and look to buy a stake in another football club.

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Staveley said: “Very sadly, we have to move on to other projects and that might involve us taking a stake in another club or buying another club and that’s difficult. But it’s possible.”

Staveley has since been linked with buying a stake in Tottenham Hotspur and the Sun report that should she be successful in purchasing a stake in the north London club, Spurs may look to Eddie Howe to become Ange Postecoglou’s long-term successor.

Postecoglou is currently in his second full season as Spurs boss, although there is nothing to suggest that his immediate future is under threat, despite seeing his side throw away a two goal lead at half-time against Brighton in their last outing. Howe, meanwhile, has entered his third full season as Newcastle United boss and is approaching the four-year anniversary of his appointment.

The former Bournemouth man is among the leading contenders to become England’s new permanent manager with Lee Carsley seemingly unlikely to turn his interim spell as manager into a permanent one. Howe is regarded as one of the FA’s preferred candidates along with former Chelsea duo Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel.

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The 2024-25 Premier League table has been ‘officially’ predicted by Opta.

The Premier League’s official performance data analysts have published a projected final table for the 2024-25 campaign just five games into the new season. Newcastle United have picked up 10 points from their opening five games and sit sixth in the table, a position Opta have predicted the side to finish come May.

The Magpies finished seventh in the table last season despite numerous injury issues and have started the new season well in terms of results despite concerns over performance levels. Newcastle host Manchester City at St James’ Park on Saturday (12:30pm kick-off) with the current league leaders tipped to win the league title for a fifth successive season.

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Opta’s prediction has Man City winning the league on 91 points, the same points total that won Pep Guardiola’s side the league last season. Arsenal and Liverpool are second and third with 81 and 77 points respectively while Chelsea completes the top four on 66 points.

Aston Villa are predicted to finish fifth, level on 62 points with Newcastle in sixth but with a superior goal difference. Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Brighton and Fulham complete the top 10 in that order.

As for the relegation battle, Opta have predicted that all three newly-promoted sides will be relegated back to the Championship for a second successive season. Ipswich are tipped to put up the biggest fight against the drop with 34 points landing them 18th and two points from safety.

Leicester City are 19th with 33 points while Southampton are bottom of the table of 27 points.

Here is Opta’s predicted 2024-25 table in full...

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Two Newcastle United players are at risk of a Premier League suspension following the opening four games of the 2024-25 season.

Joelinton and Dan Burn both picked up their third bookings of the campaign already during Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday. It means the pair are just two more bookings away from a one-match suspension.

Premier League rules state that any player shown five bookings in the opening 19 league matches is banned for one match. Last season, Newcastle saw Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier all pick up such suspensions.

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Guimaraes was also one booking away from a two-match suspension during the second half of the campaign but managed to go 11 consecutive matches without a booking to avoid a ban.

Now, Joelinton and Burn must make it until matchday 20 without picking up two more bookings in order to avoid suspension. Newcastle’s 20th game of the Premier League season as things stand is away to Tottenham Hotspur on January 4, 2025.

During the 2022-23 season, Joelinton served a one-match ban for five bookings and a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards and now risks another ban this campaign. The Brazilian was booked against Wolves following a challenge in the first half prior to being withdrawn.

Burn was shown a yellow card in the second half of the same game following a foul and subsequent protest to referee Chris Kavanagh. The defender was also booked against Southampton and Wolves while Joelinton had now been booked in three consecutive matches having been shown yellow against Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth previously.

No player has been booked more than three times in the Premier League so far this season.

As things stand, no other Newcastle players are close to suspensions with Guimaraes, Lewis Hall, Lloyd Kelly, Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy all having one yellow card to their name so far this season. The rest of Newcastle’s squad are yet to receive a caution.

But there are still 15 games to play before the five-booking cut-off point. At that stage, the threshold moves to 10 bookings, 32 games and a two-match ban.

Any player shown 15 bookings over the course of the season is handed a three-match ban but no player has ever been cautioned that many times during a single Premier League campaign.