Dubravka Exit Speculation, Continued Willems Interest & Gayles Future: Newcastle News Roundup

​All right, all right, settle down Toon Army. I know you're all wanting to know if there's any updates about Rafa Benitez signing a new deal, but we've got none of that for you today, since Mike Ashley is taking his sweet-ass time realizing it's in everyone's best interests to get a deal done quickly.


What we do have for you Geordies is some tasty transfer gossip for you to digest - or spit out, it's your choice.


Newcastle Target Frankfurt Defender Jetro Willems 

Jetro Willems

​Willems might ring a bell with you, considering Newcastle have been linked with the Dutch international since January 2016. 

But in true Newcastle fashion, the club hasn't done anything about it, even though Willems himself admitted that the Toon are interested in him.

"There is interest from those clubs,” the 25-year-old told VTBL (via HITC) after being asked about a potential move to Newcastle or Roma.

He plays as a left-back for Frankfurt, which is handy, but why would we assume that Newcastle will sign him now, if they haven't been able to for the past three years?


Salomon Rondon Still Wants to Join Newcastle

Salomon Rondon

That is according to the ​Daily Star, who claim the Venezuelan is stalling on delaying his decision on his next move with West Ham and Wolves both interested in his services.​

And who can blame him? There's nothing quite like being adored by the Toon Army or scoring a goal at St James' Park. With a £16.5m release clause, the man's a bargain, everyone can see that. Everyone, that is, except the owner of this football club.


Wesley Moraes on Newcastle Radar

SOCCER JPL D27 ANDERLECHT VS CLUB BRUGGE

Isn't it great that Newcastle are linked with all these players, when the future of the manager is still up in the air?


Moving past that obvious stumbling block, the Chronicle claim the Toon are plotting a move for giant Brazilian strike Moraes, who banged in 17 goals and 10 assists for Club Brugge this season. He's 6ft3, and is also wanted by West Ham and Lazio - which means the Magpies probably won't get him.


Martin Dubravka Comments on Speculation Linking Him With Juventus

Martin Dubravka

The Slovakian stopper, whose Wikipedia page once read that he was the father of Hadrian's wall after his heroics against Manchester United in his Newcastle debut, has told the ​Chronicle that he is 'happy' ​on Tyneside, and dismissed the rumours linking him with a move to Juventus.


"I will not think about it. I just focus on my job here," Dubravka said.

"What happens in the summer is up to the people in the office. I'm happy here - I'm playing every week and enjoying myself."

Damn right.


Dwight Gayle's Wages Prove Too Costly for West Brom

Dwight Gayle

Dwight Gayle spent last season on loan at West Brom as Rondon headed in the other direction, and did a fine job for the Baggies - scoring 24 goals as the club just fell short in their push for promotion.

Naturally you'd assume that West Brom would want to retain the services of Gayle on a permanent basis, but Albion technical director Luke Dowling told ​BBC WM that won't be happening.


"Dwight's contract is a Premier League contract," he said. "We will pay Premier League contracts but only when we are back in the Premier League. I know it won't be the news Albion fans want to hear, but they need to trust us and know we are doing everything right for this football club.

"We don't want to keep players on big contracts and then have to lay off normal staff and make people redundant," added Dowling.

As a result, Leeds have been mooted as a possible destination - but only if they serve the Magpies up highly-rated duo Kalvin Phillips and Jack Clarke in return. Seems unlikely.


Source : 90min