A round-up of the latest Newcastle United transfer rumours on Friday, 10 February.
Sporting tell Magpies to pay asking price for Manuel Ugarte
According to Fichajes Newcastle United will have to cough up the full €60 million release clause if they want to sign Sporting midfielder Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguay international has been linked with a move to St. James' Park in the summer, with the Magpies short on options in midfield.
Jonjo Shelvey's January departure for Nottingham Forest has left Eddie Howe's side light on numbers in the heart of midfield. The Toon are understood to be keen on adding a defensive minded midfielder to their squad, with Ugarte ranking among the top performers across Europe.
Still only 21-years-old, the midfielder has managed 68 appearances for Sporting CP across all competitions, scoring once and providing two assists. Sporting are hoping to tie the midfielder down to a new deal, which would see that release clause rise to above €80million.
Conor Gallagher move to Newcastle 'nailed on'
Newcastle United are 'nailed on' to sign Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher according to former Hibernian striker Tam McManus. The Magpies are reportedly tracking the midfielder ahead of a potential move in the summer, after a loan move reportedly broke down in January.
"I really like him, he was amazing at Crystal Palace,” McManus told Football Insider. “We haven’t really seen much of that magic since he went back to Chelsea but he hasn’t really had the chance in a squad that has 900 midfielders.
“That’s my point really. He won’t want to stay beyond the summer because I don’t think he is going to get any game time in the second half of the season.
“Maybe I’m wrong but even so, Chelsea will go big again in the summer and probably sign a couple more midfielders, I don’t think there is a place for Gallagher at Chelsea so he could be forced to leave.
“If that does happen then where better to go than Newcastle? I think Eddie Howe’s style would really, really suit him. I would almost say that deal is nailed on because Newcastle wanted him in January and they are the biggest club to show interest.”
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