Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman has undergone surgery after an injury blow to his ankle, and he'll join Bryan Gil on the sidelines, the club have confirmed.

What's the latest Spurs injury news?

Spurs currently have three first teamers on the treatment table with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, left-back Ryan Sessegnon and Gil out of action.

Bentancur suffered a ruptured ACL injury back in February, with the Uruguayan needing his own surgery in Spain and has been undergoing rehabilitation ever since.

"The injury was at a time when I was very well, but the truth is that I do not change what happened for anything,” said Bentancur in late June (ESPN via Sport Witness).

“I brought the club’s physiotherapist to Uruguay; we continue working and my knee is doing very well. I didn’t set a lap time, but I hope in two or three months to be at least gaining a few minutes again.”

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

The estimated return date for Bentancur, as things stand, is around mid-September so he isn't likely to miss much of the 2023/2024 Premier League season.

Meanwhile, Sessegnon's fitness woes at Tottenham continue, with the Englishman needing surgery on his left hamstring following a pre-season injury.

There is currently no estimated return date for the defender as he continues his recovery, with Spanish youngster Gil also sidelined after his own surgical needs. The midfielder underwent treatment on a groin injury and it's unclear on when he will return.

Whiteman, who suffered an ankle injury pre-season, is now set to join the aforementioned with Tottenham confirming he has also gone under the knife.

The 24-year-old will now begin rehab and a return date for the shot-stopper will be known in due course.

How good is Alfie Whiteman?

The Englishman's chances of a move away this window for game time have now been sadly scuppered and it's unclear what the future may hold for him.

As things stand, if Spurs cannot sell Hugo Lloris this window, Whiteman has both the Frenchman and summer signing Guglielmo Vicario ahead of him in the pecking order.

The former Ostersunds loanee, though, has been praised for his sky-high potential in recent seasons – as said by Paul Robinson in 2019 after the player penned a new deal.

He told Football Insider:

“He’s a Spurs fan as well, a massive Spurs fan, so it will be a great boost for him, he’s played for England at all levels, 16-19

“It’s always difficult as a goalkeeper as you don’t tend to get your chance and you may find he has to go out on loan, and get his game time and experience elsewhere.

“But it shows how highly the club rates him in order to give a new contract just over a year after signing one.”

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to bolster their centre-back ranks even further following the signing of Micky Van de Ven from Wolfsburg, amid reports that the Lilywhites are also interested in the Dutchman's compatriot – Perr Schuurs.

What's the latest on Schuurs to Tottenham?

Having wrapped up a £34.5m deal for Van de Ven on Tuesday, The Times are reporting that the north Londoners could also look to the Torino ace to help provide further depth and quality at the heart of the defence, provided that the club are able to move on their 'unwanted' figures in that role.

The piece suggests that the Serie A side are looking for a fee in the region of £28m if they are to part ways with the 23-year-old this summer, with 'several Premier League clubs' also showing an interest in the former Ajax man.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

With regard to who could be moved on to help supplement a deal for the 6 foot 3 ace, the report adds that Joe Rodon looks set to be on his way to Leeds United on loan, while Daniel Levy has seemingly been 'trying to sell' both Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga.

How good is Perr Schuurs?

While it may have been a second-string side that took to the field against Barcelona on Tuesday evening, the eventual 4-2 defeat to the La Liga giants will have further showcased the need for reinforcements in the centre of defence, with Eric Dier looking particularly 'shaky', according to football.london's Alasdair Gold.

As manager Ange Postecoglou himself admitted after that loss in Catalonia, there is a "potential" that the recent capture of Van de Ven will be followed by another centre-back before the window closes, with the aim no doubt to improve a defence that shipped 63 league goals last season.

The signing of Schuurs – who has been dubbed a "mountain" at the back by journalist Josh Bunting – could be a dream option as far as Postecoglou is concerned, having caught the eye as a result of his standout form in Italy in recent times.

While the former Netherlands U21 international has typically featured in a left-back centre-back berth in his career to date – as per The Times' Gary Jacob – the natural right-footer could slot in alongside the left-footed Van de Ven in the centre of defence, proving a potential perfect partner for his fellow countryman.

In Van de Ven, Postecoglou has found a rare gem due to the 22-year-old's "extreme speed" – as described by Wolfsburg’s managing director, Marcel Schäfer – with the one-time Volendam man also a true master at playing out from the back, as he ranks in the top 12% among his European peers for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90.

While also no slouch himself on the ball – as he ranks in the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90 – Schuurs could perhaps provide a more defensive-minded asset for the Lilywhites, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 20% for tackles made per 90, a greater record than that of the 6 foot 4 speedster (bottom 38%).

That ball-winning prowess is also seen by the fact that the Torino machine also averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions per game in Italy's top-flight last season, with that again a better record than Van de Ven achieved in the Bundesliga (2.2 tackles and interceptions per game).

That would suggest that while the latter man can offer a composed presence on the ball as well as his remarkable recovery speed, Schuurs, by contrast, can be the defensive 'mountain' to help aid Tottenham's leaky backline.

Such a combination could well prove fruitful indeed…

Manchester United are reportedly close to signing defender Jonny Evans on a one-year deal following a successful pre-season spell.

Are Man United signing Jonny Evans?

The Red Devils and Erik ten Hag have already brought in two players so far this summer in Mason Mount and Andre Onana from Chelsea and Inter Milan.

A third big-money signing in Atalanta centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund is all but complete, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that the player has completed a medical and the first part of his media duties, with documents to be completed today.

Another player who was brought in over the summer was Evans, with Ten Hag saying he allowed the 35-year-old to initially come in and train while searching for a new club.

"I know him for a long time, so I know his place was here, in Manchester.

"He came to train with us, to work on his fitness, and when I said: yeah, not all the players are in – internationals are out, still having their break, so I thought it was a good idea to help each other out. Jonny can work on his fitness and he can help us out."

However, Evans then penned a short-term deal which allowed him to feature in friendlies against Lyon and Wrexham, and by the looks of things, a new deal appears to be close which would see him become a United player for the 2023/24 season.

Read The Latest Man United Transfer News HERE…

The Belfast Telegraph shared an update regarding Man United and Evans on Tuesday evening. The report states that the Red Devils and Ten Hag have been impressed with the player who has exceeded expectations, and that he is set to sign a 12-month contract at Old Trafford.

They also shared comments from Steven Davis, who played alongside Evans for Northern Ireland, admitting he wouldn’t be surprised if the defender, who doesn't have a weak foot, earned himself a longer stay.

"Having played with him for so many years I know the quality he possesses and what he brings with his experience to a dressing room.

"I'm sure that was noticed quite early on having been away from the club for a few years. I wouldn't put it past him extending his stay there beyond pre-season. I think we were all surprised when Man United let him go because whenever you play with him and see the quality he has first hand, it is a player every one rates very highly."

Who else could Man United sign?

Evans, hailed as "intelligent" by Brendan Rodgers, could well provide more cover at centre-back for Ten Hag as the season goes on, with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez seemingly the first-choice pairing ahead of the new season.

Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly could leave before the window closes, which could leave Evans and Victor Lindelof as potential experienced back-up options. However, Man United may not stop there when it comes to new signings, with another new midfielder thought to be on the cards.

Reports have claimed that Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat is close to a £26m move to Old Trafford to reunite with Ten Hag, so that could be the next focus after deals for Hojlund and Evans, meaning it could be a busy month both on and off the pitch.

Liverpool's record-breaking pursuit of Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo could still have a late twist, according to an update from journalist Jacob Steinberg.

Are Liverpool signing Moises Caicedo?

The Reds' summer transfer business has stalled a little of late, with no new signings coming in since Dominik Szoboszlai arrived from RB Leipzig at the beginning of July. There has been real concern about the lack of a No.6 coming in, especially with both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson surprisingly departing for Saudi Arabia recently.

While Romeo Lavia has been the player constantly linked with coming in in recent weeks, having caught the eye greatly for Southampton last season, a major update happened on Thursday night, with Caicedo suddenly emerging as Liverpool's biggest target.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Now, it is being reported that a £110m fee has been agreed with Brighton for the signing of the Ecuadorian, in what would not only be the Reds' most expensive signing of all time, but also the biggest in the history of English football.

While it does look as though Caicedo is highly likely to complete a switch to Anfield in the very near future, a worrying rumour has now emerged regarding the situation – one that suggests there could yet be another bit of drama in the saga.

Will Chelsea bid for Moises Caicedo?

Writing on Twitter, the Guardian's Steinberg claimed that there is still a chance for Chelsea to come in and gazump Liverpool's enormous bid for Caicedo with an even more drastic approach:

"Chelsea are still trying to beat Liverpool to Moisés Caicedo and are prepared to bid more than £110m."

Jurgen Klopp has also confirmed the deal is far from done despite agreeing a fee, revealing the player has not yet agreed personal terms.

To miss out on Caicedo after everything that has happened over the past 24 hours or so would be an enormous blow for Liverpool, and it remains to seen if Chelsea will go even higher than them.

It certainly wouldn't be a change for the norm when it comes to the Blues, given their free-spending style, but this would be a surprise even by their standards, considering the amount of money being discussed. The hope is that the move will be confirmed sooner rather than later, easing the worries of the fans, in what could be one of the most significant signings Liveprool have made in years.

Caicedo is already a wonderful footballer who was excellent alongside Alexis Mac Allister for Brighton last season, and he couldn't be more perfect to slot into Fabinho's former role, combining industry and quality, having enjoyed an 88.8% pass completion rate in the Premier League last season.

At 22, he is three years older than Lavia, meaning he would immediately be seen as a key man, and while the Saints teenager could have a massive future in the game, bringing in the Seagulls hero over him represents a sizeable upgrade currently.

The boost that this will give everyone associated with Liverpool cannot be overstated, and it could give Jurgen Klopp and his players an extra spring in their step as they prepare to visit Chelsea for their opening 2023/24 game on Sunday afternoon.

The Women’s Ashes is set to begin on Sunday with England aiming to maintain their World Cup-winning form, but the weather may yet scupper the opening match

Adam Collins in Brisbane21-Oct-2017At the conclusion of the most recent Women’s Ashes, Australia held the urn, were the top-ranked side on the planet and boasted both the ODI and T20 world titles. There were fears voiced that antipodean advantage in the women’s game might be getting a fraction systematic.Fast forward 26 months, the Ashes is the only of those four jewels that the Australians retain. Meanwhile, it is England sitting on top of the world rankings after collecting themselves the 50-over World Cup in their most recent outing. Little wonder they’re a happy bunch this time around, or that the hosts are promising to show their teeth.”I just want our players to get the most out of themselves,” newly ordained Australian captain Rachael Haynes said in response to Alyssa Healy’s observation that the rivals are all a bit too friendly these days. That the “bitch” (Healy’s word) needs bringing back. “Alyssa is one of the only players that can get away with coming out and saying that.”This familiarity is the product of another major shift since their last Ashes contest: a semi-professional T20 circuit with leagues in both countries full of talent from the other. It is a growing pain welcome on the whole as the game enjoys this period of sustained growth.But despite Healy’s efforts, hostile environments typically require the participation of both adversaries for them to be most effective and Heather Knight is “not that interested” in her team signing up to it. “It wouldn’t be an Ashes without a little bit of word from the Aussies,” she said. “But we just want to let our cricket do the talking.”Knight couldn’t resist a little dig herself though, reflecting the recent fortunes: “Obviously that’s the route Australia want to go down, they felt they need to do something different to try and unsettle us. But that’s a sign of where we are and how successful we’ve been as a team.”And Haynes response to Knight? “Yeah, I honestly don’t mind what they do,” she said dismissively. Make no mistake, there’s no shortage of that old-fashioned Ashes niggle here.

Chucking it down. No reserve day, so a lot will need to go right. Ground staff to work through the night with supersopper. #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/lUwxWRasKQ

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 21, 2017

To a distraction of another kind, the rain did not stop in Brisbane on Saturday, pooling across Allan Border Field. Tireless work will be required by groundstaff to get the game played as scheduled. Curiously though, the ICC Women’s World Championship – that these three ODIs form part of – no longer has provision for a reserve day as it did over the previous two-year cycle when the round-robin tournament was in operation.The ICC decision was taken to enable “greater scheduling flexibility” according to Cricket Australia, but that doesn’t compute for England coach Mark Robinson, who can’t work out why the change was made. For Knight’s part, she acknowledged the frustration of their largely rained-out week to date but stressed it wouldn’t be an excuse for underperformance.”It wasn’t quite what we were expecting when we came out to Australia,” she said. “But we’ll be ready. Most importantly we need to switch on mentally and get over the fact we haven’t had practice games. At the end of this series, nobody will remember what your prep was like. We can bleat and feel sorry for ourselves but it won’t count for anything.”That any game could be reduced in overs explains why neither side has committed to an XI, but it is likely England will be unchanged from the side that won the World Cup in July. Both teams look set to go in with three spin options, including Knight in that equation.Australia’s batting list looks settled for personnel, with no newcomers since the World Cup, but the loss of Meg Lanning will be felt across every day this series – the world’s top-ranked batsman missing due to shoulder surgery. As for whether Haynes will also step into her No. 3 spot, she wouldn’t be drawn.”I really feel like I have the support of the team and everyone is right behind me,” she said. “I’m really enjoying my batting at the moment and I don’t really feel any added pressure.” Her century for New South Wales to open the WNCL season a fortnight ago lends weight to that proposition.Regardless, it is Ellyse Perry who essentially steps into Lanning’s shoes. The allrounder has averaged 79 in ODIs over the last four years, usually coming in at the fall of the second wicket. That’s on top of her duties as Australia’s strike bowler. But as her Player of the Series gongs in the two previous Ashes scraps show, she isn’t for wilting on the big stage.The England camp is mindful that this blockbuster series comes at the end of a taxing home summer, but Knight believes this helps their chances to cap off a memorable rise to the top. “There’s no trouble getting up for this series and what a massive series it’s going to be,” she said. “If we can be successful here, 2017 can be a hell of a year.” That it would be.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are ready to submit an offer for Corinthians defender Murillo, as Gary O'Neil looks to get his first signing over the line after making the move to the club,

So far this summer, the Midlands club have made just one signing with the Premier League season edging closer and closer.

What's the latest on Murillo to Wolves?

The Midlands club are prepared to bid €12m (£10m) for the defender this summer, according to Goal Brasil, via Sport Witness, who claim that Corinthians are unlikely to accept the offer, given that they rejected the same offer from Fiorentina.

If Wolves want to secure Murillo's signature then they may need to act fast after Fiorentina's bid was rejected, as reports in Brazil via Sport Witness suggest that Nottingham Forest are also interested in the central defender, and are willing to spend €15m (£13m) this summer.

Even Forest's bid may not be enough, however, with Corinthians reportedly requesting €20m (£17m) for their defender in the current transfer window.

Out of the two Midlands clubs, it is Forest who have shown their spending power this summer, welcoming Anthony Elanga, Chris Wood on a permanent deal, as well as Ola Aina, and Matt Turner for a reported combined €43m (£38m).

Wolves, meanwhile, have welcomed just one reinforcement, welcoming Matt Doherty back to the club, and also making deals for Matheus Cunha and Boubacar Traore permanent this summer.

Following the exit of Julen Lopetegui, and the appointment of O'Neil, whether they welcome Murillo this summer or not, Wolves are in a state of chaos as we enter the Premier League campaign.

Who is Murillo?

Clearly highly rated in Brazil, given his reported price-tag, Murillo has plenty of time to get even better, given the fact that he's still only 21-years-old.

Featuring 28 times for Corinthians last season, the central defender already comes with plenty of first-team experience, despite his young age.

Wolves could do with a centre-back, too, following the permanent exit of Conor Coady to Championship side Leicester City this summer. Replacing an ageing player with one of the up and full of potential would represent solid business at Molinuex this summer.

The only concern may be Murillo's height. Standing at 5 foot 9, the defender isn't exactly an imposing centre-back. But, as proven by Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, who helped the Red Devils and David de Gea to the Golden Glove last season, height isn't necessarily the most important trait.

O'Neil will be well aware of just how important it is to get the rest of the summer window right, and how crucial it is that his new side get off to a solid start in the Premier League.

Wolves square off against Manchester United at Old Trafford in their opening match of the season, in one of the toughest starts that they could have asked for.

With negotiations still in the early stages, it is incredibly unlikely that we'll see Murillo in a Wolves shirt for that game. Though, it must be said, if the Midlands side are willing to finally spend money this summer, it could certainly be a deal to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

The middle-order batsman has prescribed that Bangladesh take inspiration from their performances in away Tests earlier this year before they go into the Bloemfontein Test

Mohammad Isam03-Oct-2017

Bangladesh’s batsmen should take inspiration from their performances in away Tests earlier this year before they go into the Bloemfontein Test against South Africa. This is Mahmudullah’s prescription for his team to bounce back after their 333-run defeat in the first Test in Potchefstroom, where they were bowled out for 90 in the second innings.Mahmudullah was one of Bangladesh’s few bright spots with the bat, marking his comeback with a first-innings half-century. He said their collapse in the second innings was down to a number of “silly mistakes”.”We are disappointed,” Mahmudullah said.”The pitch was good but we couldn’t bat the way we wanted to. We made a lot of silly mistakes. But I am very confident that we will bat better in the second Test, whatever the wicket is. I am sure we can make a comeback.”It is only natural that conditions will be in the home side’s favour. We are here after a long time. But if we look at the New Zealand tour. where Shakib [Al Hasan] got the double-hundred and Mushfiqur [Rahim] made 150-plus, we should get confidence from it. We believe that our skills are good enough if we can execute it.”Mahmudullah, who played on to South Africa’s fast bowlers in both innings, defended the approach of Bangladesh’s batsmen, even the ones who went for their shots early in their innings, but said their application had to improve in Bloemfontein.”Everyone has a different batting approach,” he said. “Some feel that by playing some strokes early, they can settle down. Some feel comfortable by middling a defensive push. At the end of the day, application is everything.”It is not wrong to play shots. Why not hit bad balls for boundaries, if it gives a batsman confidence? He should play his own game. Conditions should be considered but it was good batting conditions. We couldn’t execute our skills. We were very poor.”Rain arrived in Potchefstroom a few hours after Bangladesh were bowled out on the fifth day, but Mahmudullah said their batsmen hadn’t made any specific plans with an eye on the weather.”We were thinking of saving the match,” he said. “We weren’t really thinking about the rain. Our target was to draw out the game. But we couldn’t cope in the first session.”

Sri Lanka Cricket is hopeful of naming a strong team for the third and final T20I against Pakistan in Lahore – the first fixture the team will play in Pakistan since 2009, when their team bus was attacked by armed gunman.Players had raised concerns about travelling to Pakistan, but the board on Monday confirmed that it will be sending a team across. There have been questions around whether SLC would be forced to name a weakened side if players pulled out of the game – limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga has already withdrawn from the squad – however team manager Asanka Gurusinha felt a competitive team could be named.”We have to wait and see who the players will be. SLC is expected to tell [chief of selectors] Graeme [Labrooy] what the next step forward is,” Gurusinha said. “There are lots of positives taking place. It is not nice to name them, but there has been positive feedback from most of the players.”On top of security assurances from Pakistan’s cricket board and government, SLC will be looking to further allay player fears by only staying in Pakistan for 24 hours. SLC has also said its president Thilanga Sumathipala will accompany the team to Lahore, while the board officials had stated earlier that Sri Lanka’s players had been promised the same level of security afforded to the World XI team in September, and that the ICC was also willing to send its match officials to Pakistan.Gurusinha, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s third ODI, said he was hopeful the players who had raised concerns would “seriously look at” the precautions being taken before coming to a final decision.”SLC will be speaking to the players to find the best way to handle it. Seems like we will be there in Lahore only for 24 hours. We are flying in and flying out. We are hoping that some of the players who had concerns will seriously take a look at it.”Gurusinha acknowledged that it was a tough decision to go through with the plan despite player concerns, but explained that Pakistan’s support for Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup coupled with the security assurances meant there was little chance of the venue being changed.”We have to look at both sides. SLC was concerned with security. I am yet to talk to the board, but once security was cleared the board had to send its players.”[Pakistan] came down to help us two weeks after the Central Bank bombing [in Colombo in 1996]. Had they not come down, I am not too sure whether Kenya and Zimbabwe would have honoured their World Cup fixtures.”The security [in Pakistan] has been cleared. The team will seriously look at it and I am hopeful players will be happy with the situation.”A preliminary 22-man squad is expected to be named on Wednesday, which will be cut down to 15 by October 20.

Aston Villa are reportedly remaining on the tail of Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, as Unai Emery seeks further summer reinforcements.

The Spaniard has already made sufficient signings this transfer window with the help of Monchi, breaking the club’s transfer record fee to obtain the services of Moussa Diaby in a blockbuster £51.9m deal.

Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres have also joined the party at Villa Park, however, the spending may not be over just yet.

What’s the latest on Wilfried Gnonto to Aston Villa?

As reported earlier in the summer by outlets in Italy (as relayed by Sport Witness), Villa were named in the mix to snatch Leeds teenager Gnonto.

Everton have been widely reported as joining the Villans in the race to secure the winger, who is speculated to be valued at around €22m (£19m) by the Whites.

A refreshed update via GIVEMESPORT from journalist Rudy Galetti, reinforced the Midlands side’s interest in the Italian, saying that Villa are “monitoring” the forward who is “likely” to leave Elland Road.

Another name is mentioned by Galetti, with ongoing interest in Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson relayed.

Should Aston Villa sign Wilfried Gnonto?

Having been lauded as a “real diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 19-year-old lit up the Premier League at every opportunity provided to him in his debut campaign in the English top-flight.

The Italian registered 14 starts for Leeds, averaging just 56 minutes per game over a total of 24 appearances in his first taste of the league, via Sofascore.

In a trialling campaign for the Whites, the teenager was explosive in the final third, amounting to six goal contributions through two goals and four assists, including a memorable opening goal at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

After Leeds’ relegation, it looks increasingly likely that Gnonto could be on the move this summer, in a swoop that could be a strong coup for Monchi and Emery at Villa Park.

The Midlands club have been linked with other forwards this window, including Johnson, with the assumption that the claret and blues will opt for one or the other taking into consideration the money already spent this summer.

While Johnson had an impressive individual campaign for Forest last term, the Welshman is said to be valued by the Reds at an eye-watering £40m, suggesting that Gnonto could be a more cost-effective acquisition to target, at half the price.

Price aside, Emery could find himself striking a better deal in signing the Italian over the 22-year-old, with the 19-year-old prevailing as the stronger forward based on his numbers per 90 in the Premier League last season.

As per FBref comparisons, the Leeds starlet averaged 4.39 progressive carries and 1.46 key passes per 90, with Johnson averaging lower in such areas with 2.70 progressive carries and 0.86 key passes per 90.

A similar narrative is evident in other decimals typical of a dynamic forward, with Gnonto registering an average of 5.12 take-ons attempted to the Forest gem’s 2.70, suggesting just how much of an impact the youngster could have on Emery’s flourishing side.

There’s no denying the quality of Johnson, however, Monchi and Emery could save the club millions in capturing a forward with the quality of the teenager for a price much more suitable.

Newcastle United want another "two" signings this summer, with one of them potentially being a £175,000-a-week star described as a "top professional" by his former boss, per transfers expert Graeme Bailey.

Newcastle United news – What's the latest?

Things have been going very well up on the Tyne this summer.

Following the Toon's qualification for the Champions League – the first time in over two decades – they made quite the splash in the transfer market by signing AC Milan's Sandro Tonali for a fee of around £55m.

And while it's not the most outrageous fee going – especially given the club's wealthy owners – it was more the statement of being able to lure a player of Tonali's quality away from his boyhood club and bring him to the Northeast; it was a statement.

Read the latest Newcastle United transfer news HERE…

The following two names, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento, whilst a little bit less exciting, represent some excellent squad building by Eddie Howe and will undoubtedly play a significant role in the club's ambitions to win a trophy this season.

However, for as good as those three signings are, the Magpies want more, and according to transfers expert Graeme Bailey they want at least one, if not two, more signings before the window slams shut, and one of the names may surprise some people, Marc Cucurella.

He explained the situation on 90min's Talking Transfers podcast, saying:

"We still understand they want at least another one, and I have been told two. They would like a number ten but also another full-back on the left to cover.

"Kieran Tierney has been a long-term target we know that the interesting one is Marc Cucurella, who actually was linked again with Newcastle in January under Dan Ashworth. Dan Ashworth loves this player, and I think it's a case of if Cucurella wants out, and Chelsea want him out, I think Newcastle are basically saying 'oh we'll take him, but we're not going to pay his full wages and we're not going to pay you a lot of money, but if you want him out, we'll take him'.

"And I think it's something Chelsea will consider, so watch out for Tierney and Cucurella; I think it's a case of them two teams wanting the players out and Newcastle taking advantage.

How old is Marc Cucurella?

Born July 22nd, 1998, in Alella, Spain, the 25-year-old has had a rough year in West London since switching from Brighton & Hove Albion last August for a whopping £63m.

After starting 35 games for the Seagulls in the 2021/22 season and averaging a match rating of 6.94, the £175,000-a-week man started just 21 games for the Blues last term, averaging just 6.65 for his new team, per WhoScored.

That said, while he struggled at points, there were still elements to his games that were great, and some of his underlying numbers help to show that.

According to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Spaniard sits in the top 2% of full-backs for tackles, the top 8% for attempted passes, and the top 11% for pass completion and blocks, all per 90.

He clearly left a good impression on his former manager Graham Potter when he was plying his trade on the south coast as the Englishman labelled him as a "top professional" when it looked like he might be leaving the club.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig couldn't have been more complimentary about the former Getafe star in the months leading up to his move to England, saying:

"Marc Cucurella is a great player. Fantastic mix of good technique, electric pace, determination and stamina."

While there will always be some risk with signing a player that has had such a down year, but if Howe and Co can get him for a relatively low fee, as Bailey seems to suggest, then it might just be a deal worth doing, as if he can get back to his Brighton best he'd be a brilliant asset to have at the club.