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Newcastle United have reportedly held talks with highly-rated Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga over a summer move to St James' Park.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

The 21-year-old may still be a young footballer learning his game, but he has already grown into one of his side's most important and influential players.

Last season, Veiga scored 11 times from midfield in La Liga, which was bettered only by Iago Aspas (12), and he also got four assists to his name in the competition – the joint-second-most in the squad. His performances have clearly caught the eye of some of the Premier League's biggest teams, and he has been linked with a move to Newcastle before the start of next season.

The Magpies are looking to build on their excellent 2022/23 campaign – one that saw them finish fourth and qualify for next season's Champions League – and top-class new signings are on the agenda.

Are Newcastle in talks with Veiga?

According to a report from 90min, Newcastle are one of a number of big English clubs who have had talks with Veiga's agent over a summer transfer and are willing to meet his €40m release clause.

"90min understands that Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United have all indicated that they would be willing to meet this sum up front or pay a little extra if paid in instalments.

"The quartet have recently held talks with agent Zahavi regarding Veiga's future, while Marseille and Serie A holders Napoli have also registered an interest."

Veiga could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle, adding an extra spark in an attacking midfield role and acting as a nice foil for the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.

He could be an ideal link man between the deeper midfielders and the attack, having already registered 11 assists in a Celta Vigo shirt, and he is only going to become a more complete player as the years pass.

Veiga clearly isn't going to be available on the cheap, and the level of competition for his services will also make it difficult to snap him up, but Newcastle signing him could be a statement of intent, and they could be bringing in someone who may star at the top level for a long time.

He has been compared to former Chelsea and Spain star Juan Mata, in terms of his style of play, and labelled a "very electric player" by Fabrizio Romano, which should further excite Magpies supporters about the quality he could bring to St James' Park.

Arsenal have been given the green light to forge ahead with a bid for prodigious midfielder Xavi Simons following Paris Saint-Germain's withdrawal from consideration.

What's the latest on Xavi Simons to Arsenal?

That's according to L'Equipe – via Get Football News France – who claim that the Dutchman is against a return to Ligue 1 after joining PSV from the French champions last summer.

The report claims that Mikel Arteta's Gunners are among the clubs looking to 'capitalise' on the situation, but that Simons is seeking assurances over the regularity of his match action after such stellar work in his homeland this season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, there is a €6m (£5m) buy-back clause for PSG in the dynamic midfielder's contract, with Arsenal joined in their interest by Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

Clubs outside of PSG may well be expected to pay in the region of £30m; his expected transfer value, as per FootballTransfers. It would mark another huge statement of intent from a club desperate to improve their midfield options ahead of next season.

Indeed, only last night, the club submitted a record-breaking £100m bid + £5m in add-ons for Declan Rice.

How good is Xavi Simons?

At surface level, Simons is a prolific No. 10 approaching prominence on the major European stage; dig a little deeper, and this enigmatic midfielder is one of the most dynamic and nuanced in the game.

Still only 20-years-old, Simons turned his back on PSG one year ago and unleashed his skills on the Eredivisie with the Boeren, plundering 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, including 28 direct contributions from 34 matches in the league.

There's an argument that considering his diminutive stature, fleet-footed gait and versatility across the central third, Simons could be the natural successor to Santi Cazorla's former position in the Gunners team, with the elegant Spaniard forging 180 displays for Arsenal, scoring 29 goals and providing 45 assists.

As per Sqwuaka's player comparison tool, there are several similarities to the respective phenoms' skill sets, with the esteemed Cazorla creating an average of 2.4 chances throughout the 15/16 Premier League season – to Simons 1.9 last term, completing 2.7 take-ons to Simons 2.4, and winning 6.2 ground duels to Simons 6.4.

Given the 38-year-old maestro's most efficient Premier League seasons, posting 12 goals and assists apiece in the 12/13 campaign and seven goals and 11 assists in the 14/15 term, match up with Simons' budding eye for goals and assists, he could be moulded into a midfield machine every bit the calibre of Cazorla.

And with Arteta having previously played at the Emirates Stadium at the same time as the Al Sadd star, he'll undoubtedly know a thing or two about how to utilise Simons' all-encompassing qualities to the best of his ability.

Praised as a "magic" talent by scout Jacek Kulig, Simons could well be the aforementioned Rice's perfect central partner in north London. Indeed, he'd surely integrate into the fold without seam, absorbing the fruits of his teammates' labour and cementing his stature as a prodigious talent capable of emulating the success of someone of Cazorla's ilk.

Glasgow Rangers have submitted a bid for midfielder Jose Cifuentes as Michael Beale aims to get the transfer over the line this summer.

What’s the latest on Jose Cifuentes to Rangers?

According to The 4th Official, Rangers have submitted a bid for the midfielder as they look to bring him in during the summer transfer window as opposed to waiting to sign him for free upon the expiration of his LAFC contract in December.

It is claimed that the Gers have agreed terms with Cifuentes and it is now a case of working out an appropriate fee for the 24-year-old in order to lure him to Ibrox before the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Could Jose Cifuentes improve Rangers’ midfield?

Beale is embarking on a complete rejig of the playing staff, with five players already departing due to their deals expiring, and there could well be more as he aims to assert his own authority on the first team.

Ryan Jack was one of those players who was out of contract at the end of last term, yet he signed a new one-year extension, and there is no doubting his quality despite missing large chunks of football through injury during his spell in Glasgow.

With the club entering four competitions next season, it’s vital there is strength in depth, however, could Cifuentes actually be an upgrade on Jack should he arrive this summer?

Not only does the Ecuadorian poses a much greater attacking threat, evidenced by scoring more goals (seven to one) and creating more big chances (11 to 2) than the Scotsman across their last full seasons for their respective clubs, but he also makes more tackles (1.8 to 1.2), wins more duels (4.7 to 2) and wins possession more often per game than Jack (0.7 to 0.2), showcasing his strengths across attacking and defensive aspects of his game.

Cifuentes was also hailed by Ecuadorian football expert Benedikt Duda, who said: “Cifuentes is a No 8, who is physical and strong in defence with a tendency to get involved in the attack. There is a good reason he wears the No 11, and footballing-wise, he models himself after Paul Pogba.”

The 24-year-old is seven years younger than Jack and has the potential to become a mainstay in the heart of the Ibrox midfield for years to come. The Scot may complete more passes per game (45.7 to 27.9) than Cifuentes, yet it is clear that various attacking and defensive attributes aren’t quite up to the standard of the MLS star, and this could suggest he will be a major upgrade on the 31-year-old.

The summer transfer window has now commenced, although uncertainty remains at Manchester United as to just who will be joining the club ahead of next season, amid Erik ten Hag's apparent desire to strengthen his current options.

A new 'world-class' centre-forward appears to be high on the agenda for the former Ajax boss – as per Manchester Evening News – with the Red Devils having unsurprisingly been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, as the Englishman enters into the final year of his contract in north London.

More recent reports have indicated, however, that despite Ten Hag's apparent admiration for the England skipper, United are unlikely to push for a move amid Spurs' unwillingness to sell, with the Old Trafford outfit seemingly wary of engaging in negotiations with rival chairman, Daniel Levy.

As such, the search is set to continue in the club's bid to find a new, quality number nine, with reports in recent weeks having suggested that Borussia Monchengladbach ace, Marcus Thuram, could be among those being considered.

The £53k-per-week marksman is an attainable target with just a matter of weeks left to run on his existing deal in Germany, ensuring that he could represent a bargain, free-agent alternative to Kane for those at the Theatre of Dreams this summer.

Would Marcus Thuram be a good signing for Man United?

While Spurs' long-serving talisman did enjoy a stellar 2022/23 campaign after bagging 30 Premier League goals, Thuram also caught the eye in his own right, after chipping in with 16 goals and seven assists in just 32 games across all competitions.

With the 6 foot 4 sensation also offering the ability to play on the flanks, it is no surprise why he has been hailed as a player that "every Premier League club should be trying to sign", in the words of The Athletic's, Carl Anka.

Also described as "phenomenal" by former Gladbach teammate Denis Zakaria, the Italy-born ace is also a real asset due to his dribbling prowess, showcased by the fact that he ranks in the top 13% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for progressive carries among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues.

Equally, unlike Kane – who has begun to 'drop deeper' in recent years, as per MEN's Tyrone Marshall – Thuram seemingly offers more a threat inside the area, as he ranks in the top 13% for touches in the opposition box, in contrast to the Englishman, who ranks in just the bottom 34% in that regard.

Having a deep-lying player like Kane in attack is arguably 'not what United need', according to Marshall, hence looking at a more dynamic and mobile figure like Thuram instead.

Of course, the former Guingamp ace does not boast the same Premier League pedigree as his Tottenham counterpart, although the chance to land the ten-cap striker on a free should surely be too good an opportunity to turn down for Ten Hag and co.

Newcastle United have made contact regarding a deal to sign Barcelona forward Raphinha this summer, according to reports.

Is Raphinha leaving Barcelona?

The Brazilian international only swapped the Premier League for La Liga last summer when he arrived at Camp Nou in a big-money move from Leeds United. He’s made 50 appearances in Catalonia to date, but there's a chance he could already be hitting the road once again.

Xavi’s right-sided winger still has another four years remaining on his contract, but after establishing himself as the manager’s joint second top-performing offensive player during his debut season, is attracting interest ahead of the upcoming window, in particular from St. James’ Park.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano revealed last month that the Magpies, alongside top-flight rivals Chelsea, both hold an “interest” in the 26-year-old, but it sounds like it’s Eddie Howe who is the first to make an official move.

Are Newcastle signing Raphinha?

According to Spanish outlet Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have “already made a first approach” to enquire about a deal for the man called a "phenomenon" by his international teammates. Barcelona’s attacker is “keen to continue” where he is, but it’s stated that the northeast outfit will “insist” on signing the player regardless of his stance.

The Magpies have “positioned themselves” and “would be willing to pay a fee” to bring him to St. James’ Park. The Blaugrana have made it clear he could “only leave” if they received an offer in excess of €80m (£68m), and the opportunity to play in the Champions League could end up “convincing” him to join.

Should PIF splash the cash on Raphinha?

Newcastle will already know what Raphinha is capable of having played against him several times during his spell at Leeds, where he was dubbed “frightening” by members of the media, and with that impressive form having continued since joining Barcelona, PIF should definitely test the waters by making an offer.

Barca’s left-footed gem, who is represented by D20 Sports, clocked up 14 goal contributions (seven goals and the same number of assists) in 36 La Liga appearances last season, with this high standard of displays seeing him collect six man-of-the-match awards.

The World Cup participant was also a major threat when providing for his fellow teammates having recorded 172 crosses and 117 shot-creating actions, which were both higher than any other member of his squad, as per FBRef, so should he put pen to paper in the near future, he would only improve Howe’s attacking ranks even further.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their search for a new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Andoni Iraola to Celtic?

According to the Daily Mail, former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola is preparing to throw his hat in the ring in the hope of being in contention for the job.

The club are in the market for a new boss after Ange Postecoglou left Parkhead to put pen to paper on a deal with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Iraola is currently a free agent after opting against a contract extension with Vallecano having kept them in LaLiga for a second straight season.

Would Andoni Iraola be a success at Celtic?

The Hoops could strike gold with the young tactician as he is an up-and-coming coach who has shown great promise in his short career so far.

Former Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch is another name to have been linked with the job but Iraola would be a far better option than the American boss, whose poor form at Elland Road raised red flags to those at Parkhead.

The 49-year-old barely avoided relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign as he lost five of his 12 matches with the Whites and finished 17th in the table.

He then lost ten and won four of the 20 matches he managed in the division the following campaign, and that led to him being relieved of his duties by the English side with a points per game rate of just 0.9.

That spell in England came after the American lost six of his 14 Bundesliga games with RB Leipzig in Germany, which included five wins that left them underperforming in 11th in the table. They went on to finish fourth in the table, with 17 wins to ten losses, suggesting that he was holding them back.

Iraola, however, won 22 of his 46 matches in LaLiga 2, including the play-offs, to win promotion to the top flight in the 2020/21 campaign and was then able to establish Vallecano in the Spanish top division.

The 40-year-old tactician, who typically plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, finished 12th in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 and this shows that the Spaniard was able to successfully lead a club through a transitional period.

They finished outside of the play-offs in the second tier in the season before he joined, 2019/20, and was able to turn them into an established top-flight club within three years before his departure this summer.

Therefore, Iraola, whose work with Vallecano was hailed as "insane" by scout Jacek Kulig, is a manager on the up who has proven himself capable of uplifting a team above their means.

On the flip side, Marsch has failed in his last two jobs and has been a disappointment in England and Germany, which suggests that the Spaniard would be a far better option for Celtic at this moment in time.

Manchester United bidder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are prepared to be 'flexible' in order to seize control of the Premier League giants, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest ownership news involving Manchester United?

As per Sky Sports, INEOS value Manchester United at a higher price than rival bidder Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and are looking to acquire a majority controlling stake in the club, giving the Glazers an opportunity to keep a 20% stake as minority stakeholders.

According to The Financial Times, all six members of the Glazer family could be allowed to stay on once INEOS has acquired the club, with a contractual obligation to leave the building in the coming years.

INEOS could then buy up the remainder of the shares on derivative contracts in what would be a phased takeover of Manchester United and enable Ratcliffe to take majority control.

On the flipside, Sheikh Jassim has submitted his fifth and final bid to take over at Old Trafford; however, he has made it clear that the offer must be accepted by this Friday or he and the Nine Two Foundation will step away from proceedings, as per The Mirror.

The Qatari businessman wants to take 100% control of the Premier League giants and has promised to upgrade infrastructure at Old Trafford, something which has taken a backseat under the Glazer family's ownership, as per The Daily Mail.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Ratcliffe is willing to be as open as possible about the structure of his bid in order to gain control at Old Trafford.

Jacobs told FFC: "The Glazers will look at one number, which is the club valuation, and this is where INEOS feel that they still have an advantage. There's perhaps not a massive amount between the two club valuations, but Jim Ratcliffe's offer is higher and also more flexible. By flexible, I mean that INEOS are prepared to either allow the Glazers, particularly Joel and Avram, the opportunity to stay, or Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to buy all of their shares. As long as he gets control of the football club, he is prepared to be as flexible as possible."

What now for Manchester United?

While the battle for the ownership of Manchester United rages on, the Red Devils and their boss Erik Ten Hag will look to turn their attention towards summer recruitment at Old Trafford.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount looks like he could be one of the first names through the door at the Red Devils and is said to have agreed personal terms over a move, as per Football Insider.

Manchester United have also been linked with a move for West Ham United captain Declan Rice and he looks to have played his last game for his current employers following his Europa Conference League success this week as confirmed by their chairman David Sullivan, according to The Manchester Evening News.

L'Equipe report that Monaco defender Axel Disasi could also be on his way to the North West in the off-season, signalling that Manchester United could be in for a busy time of things in the market over the next few months.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has provided an update on Newcastle United and the interest in Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. 

The lowdown: Magpies interested

This comes following a report from talkSPORT claiming that Newcastle are monitoring the 35-year-old Danish shot-stopper as Eddie Howe looks to improve the squad.

Heading steadfast towards the final 12 months of a deal at the King Power Stadium (Transfermarkt), Schmeichel could be seeking a new challenge in the near future.

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However, one notable journalist has suggested that it’s not only the North East club that are attentive to the stopper’s situation.

The latest: ‘Offers prepared’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones has suggested that the 80-cap international is on numerous radars across Europe.

He explained: “His contract is starting to wind down and I think that there’s a possibility that he has offers coming in for him this summer. I think he might even have offers prepared for him right now.

“There are clubs, I’m told, in Germany and Italy that are keen on Kasper Schmeichel and they’ve got a feeling he might become available.

“We’ll have to wait and see how that plays out, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Leicester had to consider options for him in the summer.”

The verdict: Better options available

Although the pursuit of a new number ‘keeper in order to challenge and perhaps usurp Martin Dubravka is an important one, at 35, Schmeichel isn’t the ideal candidate to carry the mantle of a new era in the North East.

This season, the experienced Dane  – who was hailed as ‘world class’ by manager Brendan Rodgers in 2020 following a goalless draw against Brighton – has kept 10 clean sheets in 51 outings across all competitions, making 3.6 saves per game on average (Sofascore).

Albeit clearly still at the peak of his powers, Newcastle manager Howe would be best served to consider a younger alternative such as the heavily linked Manchester United stopper Dean Henderson.

In other news, find out which ‘world-class’ ace NUFC have now made contact over signing here!

A big Newcastle United selection claim has emerged over Darsley Park gem Elliot Anderson…

What’s the talk?

Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope has confirmed that the youngster will not be making an appearance for the Magpies until next season at the earliest.

The 19-year-old returned to Tyneside this week after the conclusion of the League Two campaign last Saturday and will now bide his time until pre-season later this year.

Hope tweeted: “It would have been great to see Elliot Anderson for Newcastle in final two games, but club say he is not eligible to feature after loan spell at Bristol Rovers.”

Supporters will be gutted

Newcastle supporters will surely be gutted by this news, as it would have been exciting to see him play against Arsenal and/or Burnley in the Premier League.

The Magpies have avoided relegation to the Championship and these last two matches will play no part in deciding whether or not they stay in the top flight. This means that it would have been a great opportunity to hand some minutes to the youngster to give him a taste of what may be to come.

His form for Bristol Rovers in the second half of the campaign suggests that he has the potential to make the step up to first-team level.

In 21 appearances for Joey Barton’s side, he scored seven goals and provided six assists as he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.23. Anderson created eight ‘big chances’ in total and provided 1.9 key passes per game as he showcased his consistency and quality during his spell on loan.

He was also involved in one of the craziest matches in EFL history as he scored once and provided two assists in a 7-0 win against Scunthorpe on the final day of the League Two season. This win resulted in his side securing promotion on goals scored after the seven-goal drubbing placed them level on points and even goal difference with Northampton.

The 19-year-old will come back to Newcastle as a better player for this experience, as he has been able to enjoy playing regular first-team football in a pressured environment, excelling at the same time. He has proven that he can perform under pressure, and Magpies fans will surely be excited to see what he can do next season, which is why they must be gutted that they won’t get a glimpse of him over the next two weeks.

AND in other news, Craig Hope drops worrying worrying £50m NUFC claim, it’s a first major disaster for PIF…

Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been reacting to the news that Celtic could be set to receive a healthy financial windfall in the near future. 

The lowdown: £40m windfall?

This comes following a report from the Daily Record confirming that the Hoops will earn upwards of £40million due to participation in next season’s UEFA Champions League group stage.

Ange Postecoglou’s side will book an automatic place in the competition with success in the Scottish Premiership after Russian teams were banned from competing in Europe due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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As things stand, the Bhoys are six points clear at the top of the Scottish top-flight and could all but wrap up the title with victory over Hearts at Parkhead.

The latest: Kenny reacts

Speaking to Football Insider, Kenny has claimed that the influx of funds could be monumental for Scottish football.

“Celtic and Rangers both need that money. We know what the financial situation is like up in Scotland. It’s the same every year.

“A guaranteed place in the group stage is massive. £40million is a crazy amount of money to either club.

“Celtic have also failed to get through the qualifying rounds in recent years and Rangers couldn’t do it this season.

“Europa League is great but the Champions League is far more lucrative. So if they get this money, and it looks like they will, that gives them such a boost.

“They can spend more and we know good Ange Postecoglou is with transfers. With Rangers’ finances, you would think they couldn’t pay the same, so I think Celtic could pull further away if they get their transfers right.”

The verdict: Spot on

Out of the elite European competition since 2017/18, Celtic have not only missed the prestige of playing amongst the upper echelons of the continent but also the money that comes with the participation.

Having already proven to be an astute operator in the transfer market, giving Postecoglou even a percentage of the mooted £40million windfall towards transfers would be a daunting prospect for the rest of the league.

Whilst the quality of the group may dictate whether or not the Hoops advance beyond the first stage, simply being back at the top table will be a huge plus for the club.

In other news… a Celtic ace has been backed to make a permanent move away from Parkhead this summer.