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Newcastle are closing on the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, as well as two more before the window shuts, Tottenham are planning to hijack Aston Villa’s big move, while Saturday’s transfer gossip reveals more Arsenal issues for a striker signing.

DAN BURN, EDDIE NKETIAH COULD JOIN BRUNO GUIMARAES

Newcastle are growing increasingly hopeful of striking deals to sign both Dan Burn and Eddie Nketiah before the transfer window closes.

Despite the captures of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, it has been a largely frustrating window for Newcastle.

Indeed, efforts to sign a plethora of names have ultimately been met with rejection.

However, they look likely to end the window with a real flourish as three deals move closer to completion.

The first of these will be Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

The Magpies have agreed to pay a huge £40m fee to lure the player from France. That includes £333m up front and then £6.5m in add-ons. And with a medical going through without a hitch in Brazil, the signing is now close.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said on Friday they are moving closer to making their third signing of the window. Furthermore, he hopes Guimaraes will be followed up with more business.

“We are hopeful of getting closer to completing a transfer for a player,” said Howe, speaking in Saudi Arabia at a news conference held via Zoom.

“From my perspective, I don’t imagine that would be the end. Whether that turns into reality, who knows.

“Things change very late in this window as everybody knows, it can be quite unpredictable in the last couple of days, with lots of things maybe happening that we didn’t expect.”

Burn, Nketiah to follow Guimaraes

The arrival of Guimaraes at St James’ Park will likely be followed by Dan Burn and Eddie Nketiah.

As per The Guardian, Newcastle will raise their bid for Burn, having seen an initial £8m offer rejected.

Burn, born in Blyth, Northumberland, grew up supporting Newcastle and is reportedly keen on a move to the north-east.

As such, the paper claims a fee of around £10m will be enough to turn Brighton’s head.

Nketiah, meanwhile, is likely to cost a similar fee. His Arsenal deal expires in the summer and a move to Tyneside should be simple enough for the Magpies to agree.

Saint-Maximin exit fears

Meanwhile, the feelgood factor around Newcastle’s imminent signing of Guimaraes has been killed somewhat by claims made from Allan Saint-Maximin.

That’s after he was quoted him as saying he will look to leave the club in the event of relegation.

“I really, really love the club and I really love the supporters for everything they give to me, but you always have to make a choice about your dream and what you want to achieve,” Saint-Maxmin told The Times.

“If I can achieve my dream and my goal in Newcastle, I will stay for sure, but if I cannot, you need to think too about yourself, so we will see after this season what is to happen.”

TOTTENHAM TO HIJACK RODRIGO BENTANCUR DEAL

Aston Villa have had a £20.8m bid for Rodrigo Bentancur turned down by Juventus – and now Tottenham are planning to hijack the move. (The Guardian)

Paul Pogba is open to signing a new deal at Manchester United – if Ralf Rangnick remains as boss. (The Sun)

Liverpool will send representatives to Argentina this weekend to secure a £50million move for Porto’s Luis Diaz. (The Sun)

Aston Villa star Matty Cash is in talks with Atletico Madrid over a permanent transfer this summer. (The Sun)

Derby County are going for a fast-track legal decision on the compensation claims of Middlesbrough and Wycombe that threaten their existence. (The Sun)

WOLVES NAME THEIR PRICE FOR RUBEN NEVES

Wolves are only considering offers of at least £40m for Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are expressing interest in the 24-year-old. (The Sun)

Jack Wilshere is attracting transfer interest from various Championship clubs as well as teams from abroad after keeping fit with Arsenal. (The Sun)

Arsenal are encountering more problems in their efforts to prise Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad. (Daily Express)

Frank Lampard is likely to become the new manager at Everton, having been offered the job, bringing an end their difficulties in finding a successor for Rafa Benitez. (Daily Telegraph)

Tottenham Hotspur are hitting the panic button ahead of the final three days of the January transfer window after missing out on three top targets. (Daily Telegraph)

Burnley are advancing talks to sign Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst and Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Mislav Orsic. (Daily Telegraph)

AND MORE TRANSFER GOSSIP

Brentford are investigating after a video of star striker Ivan Toney appearing to say “f*** Brentford” leaked on social media. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham are reportedly eyeing a shock raid on Leeds for their Brazilian star Raphinha. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham have targeted Juventus pair Dejan Kulusevski and Alvaro Morata in a desperate bid to salvage their troubled transfer window. (Daily Mirror)

Fulham manager Marco Silva has confirmed Fabio Carvalho will not leave the club in January. (Daily Mirror)

Donny van de Beek has begged Manchester United to let him leave Old Trafford. (Daily Star)

Brentford are hopeful of announcing the signing of Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen over the weekend. (The Times)

The post Paper Talk: Breakthrough for Newcastle as triple deal nears, but Saint-Maximin claim dampens mood; Tottenham to hijack Villa swoop appeared first on TEAMtalk.