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An exciting Newcastle United transfer claim has emerged regarding Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen. 

What’s the talk?

Corriere dello Sport journalist Antonio Giordano has revealed that the Magpies attempted to sign the striker in the January transfer window.

The reporter has claimed that they put in a bid in the region of £83m and has not ruled out the club going back in for him in the summer.

He told Canale 8’s Ne Parliamo il Martedì, via Sport Witness: “Osimhen is followed by half the world, and it is true that Newcastle showed €100m in January, but in my opinion, if the English club returns, the Nigerian will not go.

“But then it is also necessary to check what Newcastle will do, what team they will do, what coach they will take on and what contractual offer they will present.”

Delight

This claim will surely delight fans as it shows that PIF mean business and were willing to shell out a major transfer fee to land Osimhen.

The Toon owners are not afraid to splash the cash and this update confirms that they are prepared to pay record figures to get their targets. Whilst they were unsuccessful with Osimhen in January, they may not have such bad luck in the future with him or other targets.

Magpies supporters will be buzzing to have owners who have ambition and want to spend to take Eddie Howe’s team to the next level. If Newcastle want to compete in the upper echelons of the Premier League they will need to spend accordingly to bring in players of the requisite quality to play at that level – competing for European places.

Osimhen falls into that category as he has been in phenomenal form for Napoli in Serie A. He has found the back of the net 11 times in 17 starts for the Italian side, along with four goals in three Europa League starts, which shows that he can score goals on a regular basis at the top level.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s top scorer in the Premier League this season is currently Callum Wilson with just six strikes. This suggests that the Napoli man would be a huge upgrade on what Howe currently has to work with and that is another reason why supporters will be delighted that PIF were and are looking to sign him.

It will now be interesting to see whether the Toon owners go back in for Osimhen or whether they look to splash the cash on alternative targets after failing to sign him in January. Either way, the fans can rest easy knowing that the club are trying their best and being ambitious with their money.

AND in other news, Wood upgrade: PIF will be having NUFC nightmares after missing out on £20m “cult hero”…

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has lauded the brilliant Sadio Mane after his influential performance in the Reds’ 3-2 win over Manchester City.

The Lowdown: Reds down City at Wembley

Jurgen Klopp’s side got the better of their Premier League rivals on Saturday afternoon, producing a scintillating performance in the first half of their FA Cup semi-final clash.

Liverpool raced into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to Ibrahima Konate’s header and a Mane double, with Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva replying for City after the break.

The Reds hung on in the dying minutes, keeping their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive in the process.

The Latest: Carragher hails Mane

Taking to Twitter during the game, Carragher paid special attention to Mane, as he produced one of his most impressive performances of the season:

“What a player you’ve been & still are for @LFC Sadio.”

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The Verdict: A true Liverpool legend

There is an argument to say that, at 30, Mane is not quite the all-conquering player he was, but he remains someone who would walk into most teams in Europe, having been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Klopp in the past.

He was magnificent against City in a new central attacking role, pressing relentlessly and providing two of the game’s standout moments, charging down Steffen for one goal and volleying home the other.

There is no question that Mane is now a Liverpool legend in his own right, like Carragher, having scored 115 goals in 259 appearances, not to mention winning the Champions League and Premier League along the way.

In other news, a pundit expects a renewal from one Liverpool player. Find out who it is here.

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According to The Express and Star, West Brom’s Zhang Yuning, previously on loan at ADO Den Haag, has returned to The Hawthorns before a proposed move to an unnamed Chinese Super League.

The Chinese striker, signed in 2017, is expected to depart for the East next week with zero minutes in Baggies blue and white under his belt.

The 22-year-old will not be returning to England to train in B71, instead leaving straight for China to finalise his move. Fortunately for the Baggies, the player has cost them nothing in fees as owner Guochuan Lai financed the transfer himself and paid his wages.

Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…

Lai had surely been hoping that the hitman would significantly boost the Midlands club’s fanbase in Asia and perhaps develop into a useful player, but that hasn’t been the case as he has been unable to secure a work permit in England.

Here’s how the West Brom faithful reacted to the news on Twitter…

Craig Hope has revealed that Dan Ashworth could now be made to wait until November before taking up the role of sporting director at Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Waiting game

Brighton and Hove Albion confirmed in February that Ashworth would be leaving the Seagulls, and it is thought by reliable sources that he is jumping ship to St. James’ Park.

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However, he has not officially taken on the new role in the North East yet, suggesting that some talks over the deal have reached a stumbling block – Lee Ryder revealed earlier this year that the compensation talks with Brighton were proving difficult.

The Latest: Hope update

Taking to Twitter, The Daily Mail journalist Hope has revealed that Ashworth could now be made to wait until November before he can take up the sporting director position on Tyneside, adding that ‘no progress’ has been made in PIF’s ‘negotiations’ with the Seagulls:

“Dan Ashworth could be made to wait until November before taking up NUFC sporting director role.

“Negotiations with Brighton continue but no progress yet.

“Club relaxed if Howe/Nickson/Staveley oversee summer transfers, as was case in Jan.

“Scouting meetings this wk.”

He continued:

“Told that Ashworth has a nine-month notice period and, as it stands, will be made to see it out.

“Brighton not making it easy for him to join Newcastle, as is their right.”

The Verdict: Blow

As The Times journalist Martin Hardy puts it, this is a ‘blow’ for the Magpies’ transfer plans if they cannot get Ashworth in before the summer window opens.

The 51-year-old has received glowing reviews, as The Times’ Henry Winter has said that he will bring ‘relentless enthusiasm’, a ‘great work ethic’ and a lot of contacts to the Toon, once he takes up the role.

Newcastle World journalist Liam Kennedy has previously hailed the pending appointment as ‘seriously good’, claiming that NUFC are starting to make ‘big moves’.

However, it looks as if they will now have to operate in the window without his skills, meaning that some of their targets may not be as easy to get, and perhaps even putting their masterplans on hold until Ashworth arrives.

In other news, find out the latest on a potential NUFC move for Neymar here!

West Ham United boss and senior employee David Moyes has been spotted on a Monday mission as the Hammers eye Hull City attacker Keane Lewis-Potter.

The Lowdown: West Ham in the mix…

As Moyes and the club remain linked with some of the Championship’s most best players, including the likes of Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) and Rob Dickie (QPR), they have also been showing interest in Tigers starlet Lewis-Potter.

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The Daily Mail recently revealed that West Ham, as well as Spurs, are keeping close tabs on the 21-year-old who has been shining in the second tier under Hull boss Shota Arveladze.

The England Under-21 international, as per BBC Radio Humberside reporter David Burns, is now the subject of a personal spot check from Moyes as he makes a Monday claim.

The Latest: Moyes spotted on Lewis-Potter mission…

Burns, sharing news on Twitter, spotted the Irons boss across London personally running the rule over Lewis-Potter as Hull faced off in a 2-1 defeat away to Millwall.

Replying in a thread to the post, he confirmed that both Lewis-Potter and central defender Jacob Greaves are on West Ham’s radar.

The Verdict: Make a move…

At such a young age, Hull’s brilliant winger has emerged as one of their most important players, racking up the most goals and assists combined (9G, 3A) in the Championship out of anyone in their squad (WhoScored).

He’s also had more attempts at goal on average than every Tigers ace this season (2.2), marking himself out as one of Arveladze’s most potent attacking threats.

There is little wonder he could cost interested clubs £20 million as his value soars, with pundit Clinton Morrison also calling Lewis-Potter an ‘outstanding’ player.

In other news: Big blow for Moyes: Journalist says ‘underrated’ West Ham ace now ‘wants to leave this year’, find out more here.

As per The Athletic, an update has emerged involving Aston Villa, Leeds United and West Ham United goalkeeper Darren Randolph as more January news comes to light.

The Lowdown: West Ham have quiet window…

In the last week of the winter window, multiple reports of marquee bids and last gasp striker signing attempts came out of the woodwork as the Hammers left it too late to bring someone through the door.

Indeed, West Ham and manager David Moyes apparently made big offers for star Leeds United duo Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips before turning their attention to deadline day striker swoops for Benfica’s Darwin Nunez and Duvan Zapata of Atalanta.

Jesse Lingard was also the subject of intense final day interest but recruitment chief Rob Newman fell short in all of these last gasp attempts.

In some exit news, sharing who West Ham and Moyes stopped from leaving, The Athletic have made a claim involving Randolph.

The Latest: West Ham block Randolph exit…

According to their sources, the Irons told their third-choice shot stopper he couldn’t join Leeds or Villa as both sides plotted loan moves for the 50-cap shot stopper.

Indeed, despite being on the very fringes of West Ham’s first team, Moyes held firm and refused to green-light a temporary exit for Randolph.

The Verdict: Wrong move?

Given the 34-year-old’s lack of game time at the London Stadium, we believe not sanctioning a move away is a strange call.

Loanee second-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has barely been granted game-time himself, starting just one Premier League game all season, making you wonder what purpose Randolph has sitting behind the Frenchman.

Randolph’s current deal expires in 2023, giving West Ham two more transfer windows to make a profit off his sale, and letting him attempt to establish game time at another Premier League side could’ve potentially done wonders for his market value.

Ex-Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate, Randolph’s former boss, even called the player ‘outstanding’ during their time together at Middlesbrough – perhaps indicating he is wasted on the sidelines.

In other news: ‘Fancies West Ham’…£18m man ‘let down’ after failed January move, find out more here.

Rangers are open to offers for youngster Josh McPake this summer, according to The Daily Record’s Live Sports Editor Gavin Berry. 

The lowdown

The 20-year-old right winger is currently in the midst of a fifth spell out on loan from Ibrox.

After temporary stints with Dundee and Greenock Morton, he has since spent time with three English clubs in Harrogate Town, Morecambe and most recently Tranmere Rovers.

The Morecambe loan was terminated in January following an ankle injury, with Rangers hopeful of an upturn in fortunes when he dropped down a division to the Merseyside club in League Two.

He still has more than two years left to run on his contract at Ibrox.

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The latest

Berry wrote for The Daily Record that McPake ‘hasn’t kicked on in the way that he or Rangers would have hoped this season’.

As a result, he is unlikely to make a first-team breakthrough at Ibrox, so the Gers will look to facilitate either a permanent exit or a further loan move during the transfer window.

The verdict

The start of McPake’s time at Prenton Park was positive, with Tranmere manager Micky Mellon handing him six straight starts. However, clearly the Rovers boss wasn’t all that impressed as the 20-year-old has now fallen down the pecking order.

Indeed, since that run of games in January, he has only made the starting XI on three occasions, and he has been an unused substitute in four of the team’s last six matches, featuring for a meagre three minutes.

He is no doubt a talented player, having featured for Scotland’s under-21s in June last year and earned some rave reviews. Simon Weaver, his manager during his time at Harrogate, said that the ‘excellent’ winger is ‘blessed with ability’ and proved ‘too hot to handle’ at times.

However, McPake – who has five goals and three assists to his name so far in his senior career – hasn’t taken the next step this season, and the outlook now looks fairly bleak for him under Giovanni van Bronckhorst at Rangers.

In other news, Jordan Campbell reacts to this Rangers development

Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson has returned to Parkhead following a season-ending injury on loan at Crewe Alexandra.

The Lowdown: Robertson’s loan spell

Robertson, who made the bench under Ange Postecoglou in Champions League and Europa League qualifiers over the summer, was sent to Crewe for the 2021/22 campaign.

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The 20-year-old turned out in a variety of midfield roles for the League One side, making 23 appearances in all competitions.

He scored twice and provided one assist for the club but hasn’t been seen since February due to injury.

The Latest: Successful operation

Crewe shared an official update on Robertson on Thursday, revealing that the midfielder has returned to Glasgow to undergo rehabilitation.

They added that the youngster, labelled as ‘terrific’ by Crewe boss David Artell, has undergone successful surgery.

The Verdict: Injury problems just won’t end

The Hoops’ injury problems just haven’t stopped this season, and they have now spread to a loanee, whose season is now over.

Postecoglou already has concerns over Daizen Maeda and Tom Rogic during the current international break, whereas young forward Johnny Kenny was also stretchered off in recent days playing for Ireland’s U19 side.

Kenny may now be joined by Robertson on the Lennoxtown treatment table, and hopefully, this will be the final injury problem for Postecoglou in his first season in charge.

In other news: ‘Worrying…’ – Sky Sports man claims ‘brilliant’ Celtic ace may now have suffered ‘bone damage’. 

Wolves’ homegrown midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is enjoying a fantastic season in the Championship on loan at Sheffield United, where he has developed at an impressive rate.

After scoring nine goals in the second tier, and contributing seven assists too, he has attracted interest from the likes of Crystal Palace, who might be viewing him as a natural successor to their own loan star Conor Gallagher.

The £8.1m-rated midfielder is the Blades’ top performer in terms of average match rating from Sofascore with 7.23, which has been topped by just three players in the league, including Aleksandar Mitrovic.

His performances have earned praise from numerous fans and pundits across the country, but perhaps the best endorsement he has received from a Blades perspective came from captain and Bramall Lane legend Billy Sharp earlier in the season.

The 36-year-old said: “Morgan’s come in and been instrumental. Scoring goals, creating goals. He really gets the crowd off their feet. He’s brilliant to have in the team. He’s always looking for the killer pass which is obviously brilliant for me.”

On Friday, the attacking midfielder scored his first goal for England under-21s in a 4-1 victory at home to Andorra. He earned a 7.1 match rating according to SofaScore, having completed all of his long balls and crosses, executed three dribbles and one key pass and won five out of his ten duels.

However, the 22-year-old could have had a hat-trick after also missing two big chances in the game, along with one half-chance which also could have nestled in the back of the net on another day.

Gibbs-White has been exceptional this season and it would be criminal of Wolves manager Bruno Lage to let him leave permanently without giving him a proper chance in Old Gold, particularly with the likes of sought-after Ruben Neves and imminent free agent Joao Moutinho possibly leaving Molineux this summer.

Scoring once every 242 minutes, plus taking 2.2 shots and making 1.6 key passes per game, the 22-year-old looks more than capable of making the step up to regular top-flight football, and if either or both of the aforementioned midfielders are to leave, he could step up and replace them in the starting line-up.

Given his form at club and international level, it would be a disaster for Wolves not to harness his talents, especially if there is a vacuum in their midfield from next season.

In other news: Wolves facing huge nightmare over “absolutely unreal” star, Lage will be worried

Celtic B coach Tommy McIntyre has hailed the professionalism of Christopher Jullien following an outing for the young Hoops. 

The lowdown: Mini Old Firm derby

The 29-year-old was a surprise inclusion for the B team as McIntyre’s side fell to a 5-4 penalty defeat at the hands of Rangers in the Glasgow Cup semi-final.

Strikes from Mikey Johnston and Ben Summers had twice given the Bhoys the upper hand before the hosts levelled to take the game to extra time and the young Hoops fell short in the shootout.

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However, despite the defeat, Jullien was able to get an all-important 90 minutes of competitive action and impressed the man in charge…

The latest: McIntyre hails ‘role model’

Speaking to the club’s official website, McIntyre was quick to praise the French centre-back’s ‘big’ influence:

“Jullien is a great role model, young Josh Dede is only 16 and playing alongside him, as is Ewan Otoo.

“So it’s great for us that he can come in and it was a big bonus. Again, the attitude was first class from Jullien and I thought Johnston was the same.”

Jullien has only made one fleeting appearance for Ange Postecoglou’s side this season having suffered a wretched campaign with injury.

The verdict: A welcome sight

Although both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have been admirable deputies in the Frenchman’s absence, welcoming Jullier’s experience and indeed quality back to the squad for what could be a crucial run-in is a massive boost for Celtic.

Out of contract at the end of next season (Transfermarkt), the former France Under 20 international could also be playing for his own future at Parkhead over the coming weeks.

Showing a willingness to get back to fitness and help out the youngsters in the process will undoubtedly stand the 62 appearance Celtic man in good stead at Lennoxtown when it comes to possible renewal talks.

In other news, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has been left fuming. Read more here.