Here is your latest 4am Newcastle United transfer digest for June 9.
Rice 'battle'
West Ham chairman David Sullivan admits captain Declan Rice has likely played his final game for the club ahead of an expected summer transfer battle. The England international enjoyed the perfect farewell, helping David Moyes to lift the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy with a final win over Fiorentina.
Arsenal are considered among the frontrunners for the midfielder, with various reports suggesting the eventual fee could be upwards of £100 million. The finances involved would likely rule Newcastle out of contention, but that has not deterred their intent according to the Northern Echo.
The addition of a new midfielder is said to be a 'key priority' for the Magpies ahead of the new season, and the club are 'keen' to hold talks with the 24-year-old and his representatives. However, there is also an acceptance that 'significant' challenges lie in their way of actually beating the expected competition to his signature.
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Relegated shortlist
Eddie Howe's side are facing a balancing act of bringing in 'elite' signings while also bolstering the ranks sufficiently to cope with European football. The Magpies have found joy in previous years of bringing in players from relegated sides, with Nick Pope proving the most recent success story from this strategy.
Now, the Telegraph claim five players from Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton are under consideration following the trio's demotion to the Championship. James Maddison and Harvey Barnes are unsurprisingly the names linked from the Foxes, with Newcastle failing with two bids for the former last summer.
Tyler Adams is being talked about as potential 'number six', having impressed in his debut Premier League campaign with Leeds. Another deep-lying midfielder being evaluated is Romeo Lavia, while Saints team-mate Kyle Walker-Peters is viewed as someone who could provide quality and versatility to the squad in both full-back positions.
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