Newcastle draw up five-man midfield transfer shortlist amid fears Joelinton has played last game for club

11 months ago 53

EDDIE HOWE has a five-man shortlist of potential transfer targets amid fears Joelinton has played his last game for Newcastle.

The 27-year-old Brazilian international signed a six-year deal after joining from Hoffenheim in 2019 and still has 18 months remaining on that £40,000-a-week contract.

Joelinton could be sold by Newcastle this summer due to a pay rise stand-off[/caption]

Manager Eddie Howe has a five-man shortlist of potential replacements[/caption]

Now Joelinton, who will miss the rest of the season with a thigh injury, wants a bumper raise to become one of the club’s top earners, leading to a stand-off between the Samba star and Newcastle.

The Magpies may look to cash in this summer rather than risk letting him leave for nothing the following year should they fail to strike up a compromise.

That will need Howe needing a replacement for the fan favourite in midfield, and Toon chiefs have allegedly already drawn-up a shortlist of five potential players.

Interest in a loan for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips has cooled over recent days due to the £7m loan fee and his lack of action over the past two campaigns.

But it “has not gone away” as the Magpies look at their other options on the shortlist.

The Daily Mail has also claimed that Bournemouth’s Denmark international Philip Billing is high on Howe’s rader.

He signed him for the Cherries back in 2019 from Huddersfield and his seven goals and stunning displays have only enhanced the 27-year-old’s reputation.

Middlesbrough’s in-demand Hayden Hackney, who scored against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last week, is another.

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The 21-year-old Teessider looks set to stay at his boyhood club until at least the summer but the list of Premier League admirers seems to grow by the game.

This update also states that Newcastle’s chief scout Steve Nickson flew to Italy to watch Atalanta midfielder Ederson this week.

But the Serie A side have slapped at least a £40m price tag on his head – making him financially out of reach for Toon amid FFP struggles.

And earlier this week Newcastle were reportedly in a transfer battle with Manchester United for a Swedish wonderkid.

The 17-year-old midfielder Lucas Bergvall currently plays for Djurgarden in the Allsvenskan in his homeland.

He has already become a regular for the first-team and his performances have caught the eye of several big clubs across the continent.

Djurgarden are believed to be demanding a fee of between £6.85m to £8.57m for the Swedish U21 ace – making him much more affordable than some of Newcastle’s other targets.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Joe White is set to be handed a chance to impress after returning from loan at Crewe.