Newcastle United 'stance' on Barcelona star detailed as £17m target confirms next move

The summer transfer window doesn’t officially open until Friday but Newcastle United are already hard at work strengthening for next season. Injury woes and a drop in form saw Eddie Howe’s side finish a disappointing seventh-place and miss out on European football, but the focus is now purely on investing in the squad and making it fit to challenge for Champions League football again.

Those in charge at St James’ Park are wasting little time in adding to the squad, with Lloyd Kelly arriving in London on Wednesday to complete a medical ahead of his free transfer from Bournemouth, with a five-year deal set to be signed. The Magpies will continue to work on deals elsewhere and with less than 48 hours until the transfer window officially opens, the Shields Gazette has rounded up some of the latest stories surrounding the club.

Torres reports

Recent reports in Spain of Newcastle’s bid for Barcelona star and former Manchester City winger, Ferran Torres, have been rebuffed by journalists closer to home. The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards insists there is ‘no truth’ behind suggestions that an offer totalling €20million (around £16.8m) has been tabled by the Magpies.

Claims surfaced on Wednesday morning suggesting that Newcastle had identified Torres as a prime summer target and put forward a proposal of €15m, plus another €5m of performance-related add-ons for the 24-year-old attacker. Whether there is interest in the Spain international remains to be seen but suggestions of an official bid look to be wide of the mark.

Torres has seen minutes dwindle over the past year at Barcelona, with just 12 of his 29 league appearances coming from the start despite an impressive seven goals and two assists. Newcastle are thought to be in the market for wide reinforcements but will prioritise strengthening on the right-wing amid uncertainty regarding current option Miguel Almiron and an overall lack of depth on that side.

Debast blow

Former Newcastle target Zeno Debast has confirmed his intention to join Portuguese outfit Sporting CP in the summer, with a deal thought to be worth a total of £17m close to completion. Belgian centre-back Debast had been on the Magpies’ radar in recent months with reports suggesting recruitment chief Steve Nickson had been scouting him during an international meeting with England in March, but any move now looks off the cards.

“I have decided to play for Sporting Club de Portugal next season,” Debast told Belgian outlet Het Laaste Nieuws. “My choice was inspired by the trust that this traditional club places in me. Sporting is the right next step for me, because the sporting challenges match my ambitions. Next season, we will play the Champions League and make another attempt at the national title. 

“The conversations with champion-maker Ruben Amorim also convinced me completely. He, together with his staff, has taken the trouble to follow me for months. And I am convinced that he will help me further in my development as a professional footballer. I look forward to getting to know my new team-mates and achieving our goals together with the staff.”