Newcastle United have been told they will have to pay Manuel Ugarte’s €60m (£53m) release clause if they want to sign the Sporting midfielder this summer.

The Lowdown: Contact made

It was reported last week that Newcastle have ‘made approaches’ to enquire about the availability of Ugarte this summer, but Sporting are reluctant to sell.

They want to offer him fresh terms, and increase his release clause up to €80m (£71m).

The Latest: Sporting demand full clause

As per Portuguese news outlet O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Sporting are ‘not in the mood’ to lower their asking price for Ugarte, and want the full current release clause paid, which is £53m.

They stress that he is an ‘important player’ for them, and are under no pressure to sell.

The Verdict: Worth it?

The St. James’ Park outfit now have to weigh up whether paying £53m for Ugarte is worth it.

In the long-term, he is only 21 years of age, so still possesses high resale value, while his market value is continuing to rise.

Hailed as a ‘midfield machine’ by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, Ugarte ranks in the 99th percentile of all midfielders outside Europe’s top five leagues for average tackles and pass completion rate per game, as well as in the 98th for blocks and interceptions, and 96th for successful take-ons (FBRef).

The Uruguay international would be a stellar addition, but they would have to pay more than the £45m to buy Anthony Gordon from Everton in January in order to complete the move.

Crucial details of the San Francisco 49ers Enterprises’ proposed takeover of Leeds United still need to be decided, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: £400m+ option

The 49ers Enterprises have had a deal in place to take over from Andrea Radrizzani since December 2021. The American investors and Radrizzani struck a deal that would see the former of the two take 100 per cent control for a total price in excess of £400 million.

However, they only have until January to exercise that agreement, and it looks as if finer technicalities still need tuning.

The Latest: Takeover news

FI reporter Adam Williams shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Leeds and the 49ers. He stressed that the 49ers are still committed to a deal even if the Whites suffer relegation to the Championship, but he was told by a well-placed mergers and acquisitions source that it is “simply not the case that all there is left to do is execute the deal”.

Williams added that the “precise makeup of the deal – the exact source of the funds and post-takeover board structure among other intricacies – has not yet been decided”.

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The Verdict: Needed

The club have been in a mess this month, with Jesse Marsch sacked almost two weeks ago. His replacement still hasn’t been brought in, with Michael Skubala taking caretaker charge.

Leeds supporters made their feelings known against Everton on Saturday, with chants of sack the board and specific frustrations towards Victor Orta being heard at Goodison Park.

Therefore, you could say that a complete reset at Elland Road under the 49ers would be welcomed, and after they were influential in the club-record transfer of Georginio Rutter, they may well have big plans both on and off the pitch, where Leeds will hopefully remain a Premier League side.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that Newcastle United want to be in the conversation to sign Mason Mount this summer, should Chelsea make him available.

The Lowdown: Contract uncertainty

The Athletic reporter David Ornstein recently provided an update on the 24-year-old’s contract situation at Chelsea, saying that talks have ‘halted’ while the club focuses on the Premier League and Champions League.

They are not expected to resume until the summer, when the Blues will decide whether to agree on terms or sell, as Mount will have just one year left on his deal.

Chelsea have already made ‘several’ contract offers to Mount, but they have all been ‘rejected’ by the midfielder so far.

The Latest: Newcastle interested in Mount

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones says that Newcastle want to be in the conversation for Mount should he become available this summer, although he claims that it would be a ‘big surprise’ if the 24-year-old is put up for sale by Chelsea.

Jones stated: “At the moment, I’m told it’s really just a watching brief because they’re not genuinely expecting Mason Mount to become available on the market.

“I think it would be a big surprise if he genuinely was for sale. But if he is, then Newcastle absolutely want to be in that conversation.”

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The Verdict: No-brainer

If a player of Mount’s quality becomes available, then it is surely a no-brainer for Newcastle to sign him up this summer.

Hailed by Chelsea and Premier League legend Joe Cole as an ‘unbelievable’ and ‘outstanding’ player, the 24-year-old has generally been a consistent performer at Stamford Bridge. He has 33 goals and 37 assists in 191 games for the club across all competitions, which has seen him win the Champions League among other accolades (Transfermarkt).

Aside from his goals and assists, the England international also ranks in the top 10% for a number of other key metrics for midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, so the Tynesiders would be buying a player of real quality if they can lure him from west London.

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez will undergo a scan on the shoulder injury he picked up in the Reds’ 2-0 victory away to Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Nunez injured in Reds win

The Merseysiders faced a massive game in the top-four battle on Saturday and ended up picking up three precious points in the Premier League at St James’ Park.

It was Nunez who opened the scoring, firing home emphatically, before Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s lead and Nick Pope was sent off for deliberate handball.

Unfortunately, the Uruguayan had to go off in the second half after falling awkwardly on his shoulder, and there is now an anxious wait to find out the severity of the injury.

The Latest: Forward to undergo scan

Sharing an update on Twitter, James Pearce confirmed in a piece for The Athletic that Nunez will have a scan on his shoulder, with Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid looming:

“Darwin Nunez set to undergo further assessment on his shoulder amid fears he could miss game v Real Madrid.”

The Verdict: Bad to worse

Liverpool’s ongoing injury problems are just cruel at this point, with key players continually ruled out of action and Jurgen Klopp never once having the whole group fit, which hasn’t helped the Reds at all this season.

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They are already without Luis Diaz in that left-wing spot while Diogo Jota has only just returned from a lengthy spell out, so now losing the £140,000-a-week Nunez for a stint would be another huge blow. The 23-year-old is improving by the week, causing defenders problems with his pace and physicality, recently being called ‘scary’ by Jamie Carragher.

His goal against Newcastle was his 11th in 28 appearances for Liverpool, which is still a solid enough return when you consider some of the unfair criticism he has taken this season.

It would now be a surprise if he was fit for Madrid on Tuesday given the quick turnaround, which is yet another major setback, with his speed on the counter-attack something that could really frighten the European champions.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Napoli are not currently even considering selling touted Manchester United target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

What’s the latest on the Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Man Utd links?

With Napoli performing so well as they look set to run away with the Serie A title this season in Italy, it’s no surprise that a number of their players are being linked with big moves.

For instance, the Red Devils have recently been spoken about as a possible future destination for Victor Osimhen, with club scouts reportedly watching the talented striker.

On top of that, his Napoli teammate Kvaratskhelia has been linked with the same Premier League club – alongside many others – but it seems as though nothing serous has been discussed at this stage. 

Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that the winger’s current team are too focused on their exploits this season to even think about possible summer sales.

He said (0:46): “He’s doing fantastic with Napoli. So congrats again to Napoli because Kvaratskhelia, in Serie A and Champions League, is always performing at a super level. Fantastic, fantastic player. What’s the point?

“I always see many rumours and many of you asking me about Kvaratskhelia and Man United, Kvaratskhelia and Chelsea, Kvaratskhelia and Real Madrid and many others. But guys at the moment, and trust me it’s not usual to say something like that, Napoli don’t want to open negotiation or to speak to any club or any agent.“

Napoli are insulating the player. Napoli are protecting the player. It is the same with Osihmen, but with Kvaratskhelia too. Napoli don’t want to make a price tag. It’s not about 100 million euros, 200 million euros.

“Napoli want to focus on the second part of the season. They want to complete this fantastic Serie A season by winning the title. They miss more than 30 years. And also they want to do something special in the Champions League  So they don’t want to speak about their players nothing will happen nothing will be discussed before June for Napoli players.

“ This is why for Kvaratskhelia the interest is normal for many clubs following the player but no one is speaking to Napoli or is negotiating or they don’t even know the price tag. So don’t trust all the stories.”

What does the Kvaratskhelia transfer update mean for Man Utd?

Man United already have in-form winger Marcus Rashford in the team while they’ve also spent big money on other attacking wide men such as Jadon Sancho and Anthony in recent transfer windows, so it remains to be seen if they would chase Kvaratskhelia in the summer.

However, if he is available for the right price, Erik ten Hag may feel as though it’s worth splashing the cash to bring the player to Old Trafford. After all, the 22-year-old has a stunning 12 goals and 15 assists in 26 appearances across all competitions for his club so far this term – which is better than a direct goal contribution every 90 minutes.

The problem, however, as Romano explains, is that we have no idea just how much Kvaratskhelia could cost as Napoli are yet to even start discussing his possible sale with any interested clubs behind the scenes.

It feels like patience will have to be required with this particular deal.

Crystal Palace are thought to be interested in Bristol City’s Alex Scott, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Scott profiled

Scott is just 19 years of age but has already made 79 senior appearances for his current employers – 38 of which have come during the current campaign.

Primarily a central midfielder, Scott can also turn out in an attacking midfield role or on the right-hand side. He is under contract until 2025 and was of interest to Tottenham and Leeds last month, with Palace also now seemingly in the race.

The Latest: Palace interest

The Sun’s Alan Nixon shared a story on Saturday evening regarding Scott, where Palace were named.

The reliable reporter said that Palace and West Ham are interested in the teenager and have made checks on the player, with Bristol City valuing Scott at £20m.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Scott looks like a potential star in the making, so if Palace were able to secure a transfer, it could prove to be a shrewd move in the long run. Hailed as ‘deadly’ and ‘different class’ by his team-mate Kal Naismith, Scott has been one of Bristol City’s top performers this season, with no player registering more assists (4), as per WhoScored.

Scott also ranks highly when it comes to key passes and dribbles per 90, and with his versatility in midfield, he could be welcomed at Selhurst Park.

Patrick Vieira could have limited midfield options in the summer, with Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur and Jeffrey Schlupp all out of contract at the end of the season, so Scott could potentially replace one of those three.

Leeds United face Southampton in a relegation six-pointer in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with Javi Gracia taking charge of his first game as manager of the club.

The Spanish boss won’t have had long to work with his new squad but if he has done his due diligence on the players available at Elland Road, and spoken to coaches at the club, then he should realise that Crysencio Summerville needs to be dropped from the starting side.

Will Crysencio Summerville start against Southampton?

The Dutch winger established himself as a first-team regular under Jesse Marsch and caught the eye ahead of the World Cup break earlier in the season, scoring in four consecutive games, including a late winner against Liverpool at Anfield.

Marsch was no doubt hoping that he could push on during the extended break, as he wasn’t part of the Netherlands’ squad in Qatar, but his form since then has been disappointing, to say the least.

In seven appearances in all competitions, the 21-year-old has no goals and just one assist, which came in the 2-2 draw against West Ham.

WhoScored has awarded the young winger below a 6.8 rating in every game since domestic football resumed which suggests that he was living off his pre-Qatar form under Marsch, as he continued to earn starts despite his lack of goal involvements.

Summerville starting has also meant that marquee signings such as Luis Sinisterra and Georginio Rutter have been forced to warm the bench in recent weeks and for such an important game against Southampton, it is surely time that Leeds gave their big investments a chance to impress.

The Saints picked up a morale-boosting three points against Chelsea last time out and another win at Elland Road would see Leeds drop to the bottom of the table, so Gracia has to be ruthless and give his side the best possible chance of winning.

Summerville, who earns around £15k-per-week at Leeds, is ranked as the 13th-best performer at Elland Road this season, while he also ranks 13th for key passes per game, which represents an underwhelming return for an attacking player.

Therefore, after a poor few months since the World Cup, it is time that Summerville was dropped to the bench in what would be Gracia’s first big call in the Whites dugout.

Liverpool are believed to have Red Bull Salzburg attacking midfielder Luka Sucic on their transfer radar ahead of the summer – and he could be available for as little as €15m (£13m).

The Lowdown: Sucic turning heads at Anfield

20-year-old Sucic is currently a regular starter at Salzburg and has notched four assists in all competitions so far this term.

While he is yet to bag this season, he showed his goalscoring prowess last year, scoring eight times in what was his first full campaign in the Austrian Bundesliga.

According to Football Transfers, journalist Jacque Talbot claimed that the Croatian could have a release clause of up to €20m (£18m).

The Latest: Jurgen Klopp ‘would like’ Sucic at Liverpool

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Talbot elaborated on his report by highlighting why Liverpool may have Sucic on their transfer wishlist going into the summer window.

He said: “[He is] on Liverpool’s list ahead of a summer move. So we’ve heard that the release clause is somewhere between €15-20m, but we need to stand that up with people at Salzburg.

“He can play No 10, No 8, a variety of positions; relatively cheap, even if the release isn’t that – we believe it is [£20m].

“Fantastic player, tall, towering, can score goals, can do a lot of things. You can see why someone like Klopp would like him.”

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The Verdict: Versatility could be key for Klopp

Given that Sucic has played across the midfield throughout his short career to date, he could provide a refreshing outlet for Jurgen Klopp if he was able to lure him to Anfield.

It has been well-documented that Liverpool’s midfield is in dire need of an upgrade, and with some players already looking close to the exit door, it is no surprise to see the Reds linked with players in this area of the pitch.

Sucic’s versatility is clearly not his only asset, as his evident threat through his goalscoring figures and height makes him seem like an all-rounder – while his reported asking price makes it almost too good to be true.

Indeed, Klopp has a history of searching for bargains in this area of the world, as he brought in Takumi Minamino for a measly £7.25m – and although the Japan international hardly set the world alight on Merseyside, it is clear that the production line at Salzburg continues to be impressive.

We may be some months away from the transfer window opening, but it is surely encouraging nevertheless that Liverpool have exciting plans in the offing ahead of the coming months.

West Ham came close to signing Alex Song on a permanent deal from Barcelona but it seems clear that the Hammers dodged a bullet when he failed his medical, as he is now plying his trade in Djibouti.

What happened with Alex Song at West Ham?

Song was a Cameroonian midfielder who first came to prominence with Arsenal, where he would enjoy comfortably the best spell of his footballing career.

The Gunners would sign him from SC Bastia in 2004 and it didn’t take long for him to become a regular under legendary manager Arsene Wenger, making 204 appearances in total, in which he contributed ten goals and 23 assists.

This attracted the attention of Barcelona in 2012 and he would complete a move to the Catalan club in a deal worth £15m.

However, despite joining one of the best teams in history, it seems as if Song was motivated by money, rather than winning trophies and playing good football at the Nou Camp.

He admitted in a 2022 interview that he didn’t care that he wouldn’t feature in many games for the La Liga giants, suggesting that once he knew he would become a millionaire, the move was a no-brainer.

However, Barcelona decided quickly that Song wasn’t at the required level to play, as he managed just 65 appearances, before joining the Hammers on loan for the 2014/15 campaign.

After making 31 appearances in all competitions, Song had clearly done enough to impress and a deal was agreed for him to join permanently on a free transfer, but he failed his medical and instead re-joined for another year on loan.

However, his game time was severely limited that term, as he made just 12 appearances in the Premier League before returning to Spain the following summer, when he eventually got his move away from the club, joining Rubin Kazan on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old hardly set the world alight during his time in Russia, making just 23 appearances before a move to Switzerland with FC Sion, and later, rather bizarrely to AS Arta/Solar7 in Djibouti.

Considering how quickly his career has declined, as well as his own admission about being money motivated, it seems clear that West Ham dodged a bullet by only signing Song on loan, rather than a permanent transfer back in 2015.

West Ham United could be in line for a mega-money windfall as journalist Pete O’Rourke shares some news on minority shareholder Daniel Kretinsky.

The Lowdown: Kretinsky becomes stakeholder…

In 2021, the Czech billionaire completed his purchase of a 27% stake in West Ham, giving the club a financial boost off-the-field and adding to their pool of investors.

The deal was worth around £180 million-£200 million, and it was a move which propelled Kretinsky on to the West Ham board – making him the second-largest shareholder.

There have been murmurs that the Sparta Prague owner could well increase his stake with Kretinsky agreeing the  option to instigate a full takeover in his 2021 deal.

The Latest: West Ham in line for Kretinsky windfall?

As per journalist O’Rourke, writing for Football Insider, Kretinsky is now keen to increase his stake with a new £150 million investment.

The magnate is apparently interested in acquiring David Gold’s shares with the former West Ham chief having sadly passed away in January.

A £150m+ deal for Gold’s shares would bring Kretinsky’s stake up to 52%, making him the majority shareholder, with O’Rourke suggesting this could happen ‘as soon as this season’.

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The Verdict: Good news?

Of course, this could be good news for West Ham and supporters who have specifically taken issue with club hierarchy in recent seasons.

There have been fierce protests in the last two seasons, fracturing the relationship between fans and ownership, and especially after the club moved to the London Stadium from their previous Boleyn Ground.

As West Ham battle relegation on the pitch, they could be overdue a promising development off the field, with a £150m+ windfall certainly coming as just that.

It will be interesting to see if this development does indeed come to fruition before the end of this season.