Pete O’Rourke transfer column: Newcastle to sign two stars from PL strugglers, Arsenal ready £40m Chelsea deal, major Victor Osimhen update

Sun 23 April 2023 20:00, UK

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CHELSEA

The Blues have continued their search for a striker by turning attention towards Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque.

The 18-year-old sensation has burst onto the scene in South America and drawn attention from all over Europe.

Chelsea attempted to sign him in January and intend to reignite their interest in the summer, but their plans could be derailed by financial issues.

After spending heavily over the last two windows, the London giants are set to have their spending capped by Financial Fair Play regulations.

Athletico Paranaense are demanding £35-40million for Roque, but Chelsea may have to sell players in order to fund the deal.

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The Blues have good contacts in South America after striking deals for Andrey Santos and Kendry Paez.

Victor Osimhen is another striker at the top of Chelsea’s shopping list, but much like the Roque deal, FFP is making things very difficult.

Napoli are holding out for a fee north of £100million and Chelsea are now considering it financially impossible to compete for the 24-year-old’s signature.

However, things may change at Stamford Bridge if Chelsea are able to offload a handful of players for big fees – they have already highlighted six players that can be sold.

Hakim Ziyech, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all set to be put up for sale to help raise funds, while Romelu Lukaku is another who could leave the club.

The Belgian striker is currently on loan at Inter Milan, but the Italian giants have ruled out a permanent move as they cannot afford his price tag.

Chelsea spent £97.5million to buy him from Inter in 2021, and they will want a considerable return on their investment for him to leave permanently.

A return to Stamford Bridge is also unlikely according to my sources, with Lukaku burning bridges at the club following his controversial interview in 2021.

If Chelsea are able to find suitors for their players and raise funds, then they cannot be ruled out of rejoining the race to sign Roque and Osimhen.

Chelsea are also heavily invested in loanee centre-back Levi Colwill, who has attracted interest from Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City.

All three clubs are monitoring Colwill’s availability, but Chelsea have made it bluntly clear that the 20-year-old defender is not for sale.

Chelsea are willing to offer him first-team promises to ensure he returns to Stamford Bridge in the summer, with the club envisioning a long-term partnership between Colwill and Wesley Fofana in London.

LIVERPOOL

Alongside midfield reinforcements, Jurgen Klopp is keen to bring a new central defender to Anfield in the summer.

Josko Gvardiol was a long-term target for the club, but Red Bull Leipzig’s £80million asking price has forced the Reds to look elsewhere.

Multiple scouts have been sent to watch Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill this season, and the recruitment team are excited by his potential, but Chelsea are standing firm on their decision not to sell him.

Eintracht Frankfurt centre-back Evan Ndicka is another target for the club.

The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and both Liverpool and Tottenham are preparing contract offers for the Frenchman.

Ndicka’s impressive physical qualities fit Klopp’s profile for a new defender, and the Reds could push to get a deal over the line quickly.

NEWCASTLE UNITED

It is understood that Newcastle have made a change to their transfer strategy this week, with the club now prioritising a central midfielder and creative wide player over a new striker.

The impressive form of Alexander Isak in recent weeks has convinced the Magpies that a new centre-forward isn’t essential in the summer.

Instead, the Tyneside club have shortlisted three Premier League players as perfect signings for Eddie Howe.

Mason Mount, James Ward-Prowse and Harvey Barnes are the club’s main targets, with Howe eager to stick to his pattern of signing English players with Premier League experience.

Newcastle are ready to flex their financial muscle under their Saudi owners this summer, but the North East club are also growing increasingly confident of striking bargain deals for Ward-Prowse and Barnes if Southampton or Leicester are relegated.

Mount is considered a much harder deal to complete given Liverpool’s progress and contact with the player’s representatives.

But Newcastle plan to propose a deal of their own for Mount and will be waiting patiently in case talks with Liverpool collapse.

With their change of strategy in place, Ivan Toney is no longer considered a target for Newcastle.

If they planned to pursue a centre-forward this summer, the 27-year-old Brentford striker was their first-choice target.

The London side want £50million to sell Toney this summer, and Newcastle chose to instead prioritise other positions.

Declan Rice is another player who has been wiped off of Newcastle’s radar.

The Magpies board still admire his qualities as a player, but Newcastle are aware that other clubs currently lead the race for the West Ham captain.

MAN UNITED

Chelsea’s financial struggles have handed Man United a huge boost in their pursuit of Victor Osimhen.

The Red Devils are now considered the Premier League frontrunners to sign the 24-year-old Nigerian striker, although they still face fierce competition from French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG are prepared to enter a bidding war with the Manchester club for the Napoli star.

United also remain interested in signing Ivan Toney, who is valued by Brentford at £50million.

The England international is admired by the club’s recruitment team, but the club remains cautious about bidding for Toney while his gambling investigation rumbles on in the background.

ARSENAL

Arsenal are aiming to replicate their success with Gabriel Martinelli by returning to Brazil and rivalling Chelsea for Vitor Roque.

With the Blues struggling financially, the Gunners are confident of hijacking the £40million deal for the 18-year-old star.

I understand that Roque has been on Arsenal’s radar for a while, with club scouts spotted watching him throughout the season.

Arsenal are also in pole position to sign Declan Rice this summer. The Hammers captain is desperate to play in the Champions League and would prefer a move where he can continue to live in London.

Following their league success this year, the North London side are confident about luring Rice to The Emirates.

They are willing to match the £80-100million asking price set by West Ham.