Your Newcastle United transfer round-up for Friday, August 26.
Newcastle eye Ajax star
Newcastle are among a number of clubs interested in signing Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus, according to Ghanasoccernet. Fabrizio Romano previously reported that the Ghanaian international was set to join Everton last week but conflicting reports claim no official offers have been submitted.
Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United are the other Premier League clubs reportedly interested in the 22-year-old, with one of those sides asking his former club FC Nordsjaelland for a character reference.
Kudus joined Nordsjaelland from Ghana’s fabled Right to Dream academy in 2018. After spending two years in Denmark, during which he found the net 14 times in the Danish Superliga, Kudus signed for Dutch juggernauts Ajax.
The midfielder featured 42 times in all competitions across his two full seasons in Amsterdam and has played four times so far this term.
Lewis handed lifeline?
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has revealed that he thinks Jamal Lewis could ‘play an important role’ for his side amid rumours of a potential move to OGC Nice. Lewis made his first appearance in over eight months as he replaced Matt Target immediately after the half-time interval in Newcastle’s 2-1 win at Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Just hours before kick-off, French publication L’Equipe claimed that Nice were expected to intensify their pursuit of the 24-year-old. Lewis, who joined Newcastle from Norwich in the summer of 2020, is believed to fit Lucien Favre’s profile.
However, after Newcastle's trip to Tranmere, Howe was full of praise for his left-back.
“He can play an important role,” Howe told NUFC TV. “He’s very athletic. He’s a very good character and a very good all-round player. He is very attacking minded, so that’s very much the model of full-back we love.
“We will wait and see what happens with him but I’m pleased with him today, it was an important return.”
Dubravka plot thickens
Manchester United have turned their attentions to Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp revealed why he turned down the Red Devils.
Trapp told talkSPORT: “There have been a lot of reports about interest from Manchester United. It’s true that a written offer was tabled. Since it came from such a world-famous club, of course I considered it.
“Yesterday I informed the management of both clubs that I’ve decided to stay at Eintracht. We’ve made history here together and experienced some unforgettable things. I have absolute faith in us.”
Trapp’s decision to reject Man United has led them to turn their attentions to Dubravka. The Slovakian international has fallen down the pecking order at Newcastle since the summer arrival of Nick Pope.
He missed Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers due to illness but has been heavily linked with a move away from Tyneside this summer.
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