Many Liverpool fans have been reacting on social media after the Telegraph reported that Adam Lallana is to be offered a new deal at Anfield, having emerged as a target for clubs in China and Major League Soccer.
Lallana is out of contract on Merseyside next summer, but the Reds will sit down to discuss extending his spell beyond his current deal, which sees him pick up £110,000 per-week.
Jurgen Klopp is said to admire the 31-year-old for his leadership qualities and ability to play in a number of positions, having deployed the 34-cap England international as an attacking, central, defensive and wide midfielder throughout their time together.
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Liverpool are ready to hold discussions with Lallana over extending his contract, but the former Southampton man would likely be offered longer terms and the promise of more regular football if he were to leave.
Clubs in China and MLS are thought to be interested in a potential deal, and may step up their advances when the transfer market reopens in January.
No sides are specifically mentioned in the Telegraph’s report, nor how much any interested party would need to offer to tempt Liverpool into selling.
Lallana is one of the Reds’ only natural attacking midfielders, while Klopp boasts five central and one out-and-out defensive option at Anfield in Fabinho.
With Fabinho one booking away from suspension, Lallana made his first Premier League start of the campaign in place of the Brazilian against Aston Villa at the weekend.
Lallana had made four outings in the top-flight before Saturday’s win, but no appearance was longer than the 19 minutes awarded against Manchester United when he scored the equalising goal.
Here are some of the reactions shared to the Telegraph’s report…
Orjan Nyland finally made his Premier League debut during Aston Villa’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
The 29-year-old had not even been in the squad for a top-flight fixture ahead of the match against Wolves, who ran out 2-1 winners on home soil.
Number two Jed Steer – featuring in place of the injured Tom Heaton – was forced off the field in the early exchanges, though, which allowed Nyland to earn some first-team minutes.
The Norway international could not prevent his side from suffering a defeat in their final match before the November international break.
However, judging by the reaction on social media, the Villa fans were pleased with what they saw from the stopper on the afternoon.
Indeed, many took to Twitter to praise Nyland’s display at Molineux, with a number pleased to see him back in action after overcoming a ruptured Achilles.
A selection of the reaction is available to view below:
One Manchester City star who has been described as “remarkable” by manager Pep Guardiola has revealed that he will soon be having conversations with the club over his contract situation.
The Blues had a relatively quiet transfer window this summer, but that hasn’t stopped them from making another strong start to the Premier League season. Guardiola’s side have won their first three league games of the campaign, with their latest victory coming against West Ham United.
Man City have struck gold on a "magician" who's worth way more than Palmer
He did not cost them anything
ByJoe Nuttall Sep 1, 2024 Manchester City’s summer transfer window
As stated, the club was rather quiet this summer, making just two new additions. One of those was in the form of Savinho joining from French side Troyes and the other saw midfielder İlkay Gündoğan re-join from FC Barcelona.
Savinho
Troyes
İlkay Gündoğan
FC Barcelona
However, the club did see a lot of players leave, with the most high-profile departure being forward Julian Alvarez, who left to join Atlético Madrid. As well as the Argentine, City also let João Cancelo, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Sergio Gomez leave on a permanent basis.
Despite signing just two new players, City were said to be looking at some new faces as the window came to a close. Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson was linked and is expected to be a target in 2025, though he could cost up to £70m.
As well as potentially looking to sign Ferguson, City were also said to be interested in Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, with Guardiola said to be a “huge” fan of his. The 29-year-old impressed for Celtic in pre-season against City and was at it again in his side's win over Rangers on Sunday.
Kyogo Furuhashi
£55m Man City ace set to have contract conversations
Manchester City’s talisman Kevin de Bruyne has revealed that he will be having “conversations” with the club about his contract situation, as he is in the final year of his deal. De Bruyne cost the Blues £55 million in August 2015, and given what he has achieved at the club, it was worth every penny.
The Belgium superstar, who Guardiola described as “remarkable” after the club beat Southampton 4-1 back in April 2023, believes there will be conversations between him and the club once the season gets into full swing.
De Bruyne told journalist Mike Minay, via Manchester City News: “I haven’t spoken to anyone. There’s been a lot of noise and news. I said in the summer, I expected a quiet summer, and that’s actually what happened. I’ve been on holiday, came back, and started training. That’s it. Nothing to tell.
“Once the season goes on, I’m sure there will be conversations to be had. I just want to feel good, play good football, and this will come in the upcoming months. I don’t really feel the rush for the moment.”
The Belgian international was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia in the early part of the summer transfer window, but an offer didn’t arrive, and he has now entered the final year of his contract at the club, putting his future into doubt.
The summer transfer window officially slams shut later this week and Aston Villa only have until Friday night to complete any business that they still want to do.
Unai Emery and Monchi have already enjoyed a busy summer of signings with eight new arrivals coming through the door at Villa Park so far.
The likes of Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen, and Jaden Philogene have all been snapped up, although they re-signed Cameron Archer before immediately selling him to Southampton.
With these fresh additions, Villa have started the Premier League campaign with three points from the opening two matches – beating West Ham United 2-1 and losing 2-0 to Arsenal.
The Villans were beaten 2-0 by the Gunners in their second game on Saturday in the evening kick-off, thanks to goals from Leandro Trossard and Thomas Partey.
Despite all the new signings, Onana was the only summer addition who started the match as he lined up in the middle of the park with Youri Tielemans.
Whilst it was a disappointing result for Emery's side, there were some impressive performances on the pitch from individuals and one player who caught the eye with his display was versatile attacker Morgan Rogers.
Morgan Rogers' impressive start to the season
The England U21 international lined up alongside Ollie Watkins at Villa Park on Saturday and showcased his powerful running, impressive dribbling, and creativity against the Gunners.
Rogers was almost unstoppable when driving forward with the ball, as he completed five of his seven attempted dribbles, and created two chances, including one 'big chance', but was not rewarded with an assist.
He slotted the ball across to Watkins for, what seemed like, a simple opportunity for the English centre-forward to hit the target and find the back of the net, but the ex-Brentford man scuffed his effort wide of the post, with the score at 0-0.
That display from Rogers came after he had created two chances and completed one of his two attempted dribbles in the 2-1 win over the Hammers in the first game of the season.
The 22-year-old joined the club on a permanent deal from Championship side Middlesbrough in January, after a return of two goals and six assists in 14 starts in the second tier,
Appearances
11
Starts
8
Goals
3
Assists
1
Big chances created
1
As you can see in the table above, Rogers enjoyed a promising start to life in the top-flight with four direct goal contributions in eight starts for the Villans.
He has already created as many 'big chances' (one) this season as he did in those 11 appearances in the second half of last term and the hope should be that the English powerhouse is able to kick on and enjoy a terrific first full campaign with the club.
Emery and Monchi could aid his development by landing a dream signing for him at the top end of the pitch in the form of one of the team's reported transfer targets.
Aston Villa interested in Premier League forward
Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that Aston Villa are interested in a potential swoop to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace.
The outlet claimed that the Villans want to bolster their attacking options before the end of the summer transfer window and are in the market to bring in a 'lethal' forward.
It was stated that Villa have already made contact with their Premier League rivals to discuss a possible deal for the £50k-per-week centre-forward this month.
Football Insider added that the Eagles are not interested in cashing in on the former Mainz number nine and, at the time, were hoping to tie him down to a contract extension.
However, it was claimed by South London Press last week that Palace have not made any progress in their contract talks with Mateta, which suggests that they are struggling to get him to commit to Selhurst Park.
The report also revealed that the 27-year-old marksman would like to play in the Champions League, which could give Villa a boost in their pursuit of his services, given their inclusion in the group phase of the competition this season.
Why Mateta could be a dream for Rogers
Monchi and Emery could secure a different number nine option to Watkins by sealing a deal to sign Mateta from Palace before Friday's deadline.
Whilst the England international is a dynamic and fast striker who looks to play off the shoulder of defenders and make runs in-behind to stretch backlines, the French ace is more of a powerful and reliable hold-up striker who can bring others into the game.
Palace thrived in the second half of last season with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze as two wide number tens playing just behind the 6 foot 4 menace.
He provided a fantastic foil for the two attacking midfielders, who combined for 22 goals and ten assists in the Premier League, and Rogers could thrive in a similar role.
The Villa youngster could use his powerful running to play off Mateta and then run beyond him to create chances for himself to improve his own goal tally, as the Palace star provided five assists from a striker position last term in the league.
Meanwhile, the French centre-forward's impressive finishing could also help to make the most of Rogers' creativity, as the 'big chance' he created against Arsenal was not converted into an assist.
Starts
25
xG
10.94
Goals
16
Big chances created
5
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, Mateta, who was hailed as "underrated" by journalist Josh Bunting, was clinical in front of goal with a return of 16 goals from 10.94 xG.
The Palace star overperformed his xG by more than Watkins did for Villa, as the England international scored 19 goals from 16.93 xG, and this suggests that he could provide a more ruthless presence in the final third when Emery wants a different option alongside Rogers up front.
Aston Villa now leading the race to sign "incredible" Premier League winner
The Villans could end their summer window with a bang…
1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 24, 2024
Therefore, Villa should push to secure a deal for the Eagles marksman before the end of the summer transfer window, as Mateta could be a dream signing for the club and for Rogers.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement managed to get a few high earners off the wage bill at the end of last season.
John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic all departed Ibrox after varying degrees of success, but the clearout helped Clement bring in several new players during the summer transfer window.
Rangers defender Borna Barisic.
Lundstram was perhaps the most polarising figure out of the four. Capable of producing wonder purple patches during his spell at the Light Blues, the Englishman was never consistent enough to perform solidly on a regular basis.
Player
Club joined
Sam Lammers
FC Twente
Connor Goldson
Aris Limassol
Robby McCrorie
Kilmarnock
Ryan Jack
No club
Kemar Roofe
No club
John McLaughlin
No club
Borna Barisic
Trabzonspor
John Lundstram
Trabzonspor
Jose Cifuentes
Aris Saloniki
Having signed the likes of Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande, Lundstram is now a thing of the past.
John Lundstram’s Rangers statistics
Lundstram was signed in the immediate aftermath of the successful 2020/21 campaign, which saw the Gers win their first league title in a decade under the tutelage of Steven Gerrard.
John Lundstram
Having played in the Premier League with Sheffield United, luring him north of the border on a free transfer was seen as a major coup for the club, one that Gerrard hoped could carry the momentum from the 2020/21 campaign into the new season.
The midfielder ended up playing 48 matches across all competitions for the Gers, yet he failed to really shine in the top flight as the club lost their title to Celtic.
Europe was a different story, however. Lundstram appeared in all but one of the club’s Europa League fixtures as they reached the final after a stunning run after Christmas, seeing off the likes of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
The Englishman scored against both sides, including the winner against the latter in the semifinals, endearing himself to the Ibrox faithful.
This led Ally McCoist to lavish praise on the player ahead of the Europa League final, saying: "His form the last couple of months has been nothing short of magnificent. He's become a cult hero."
The following two seasons failed to see him perform the way he did during this wonderful run in Europe, struggling domestically as Celtic won every trophy minus the 2023 League Cup.
Overall, Lundstram made more than 150 appearances for Rangers, registering 20 goal contributions in the process, but there is a feeling that his spell in Scotland could have been better if he was more consistent, rather than sparkling in spells.
Rangers midfielder John Lundstram.
His departure freed up a good chunk of the wage bill. Might Clement forget all about him by signing another midfielder before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month?
Rangers' search to replace Lundstram
According to a report from the Daily Record earlier this week, the Light Blues are keeping tabs on Benfica starlet Martim Nemo as a loan deal has been touted for the player.
Nemo has played just once for Benfica, but was given some minutes during pre-season and manager Roger Schmidt stated the midfielder could depart again if he so wishes, saying:
"Martim has done well at Gil Vicente after the injury he sustained. "Regardless of whether the players go on loan or not, we have to accept things as they are. With all the players who leave Benfica, the idea is to give them the opportunity to develop and gain confidence.
"And of course it is always an excellent opportunity for Benfica. The idea is to have a good overview of all the players, but we have to make difficult decisions later on because we have to respect the player's own wishes."
This could give Clement an ideal chance to sign the youngster on a temporary deal, which could turn into a £2.5m purchase next summer should the Ibrox side decide to sign him permanently.
Why Martim Nemo could be a dream signing for Connor Barron
Nemo spent last season on loan at Portuguese side Gil Vicente, operating in a deep lying role as he made a total of 33 appearances for the club, scoring once and grabbing two assists.
The 21-year-old showed a willingness to get on the ball often, averaging over 40 touches per game, while he also succeeded with 0.9 dribbles per match – a success rate of 82% – showing that he enjoys getting forward often and beating his man.
Lauded by scout Jacek Kulig as an “exciting” talent along with several other Benfica youngsters back in 2021, Nemo may soon have to leave the club in order to secure regular first-team football.
In the Portuguese top flight last term, Nemo ranked in the top 20% for progressive carries (2.22), the top 4% for successful take-on percentage (77.1%), the top 10% for ball recoveries (7.13) and the top 17% for tackles in the middle third (1.25) per 90 when compared to his positional peers.
This clearly showcases his talents, despite playing for a team that finished in 12th position last season, underlining his importance.
Alongside Barron, Nemo could form a dream partnership with the former Aberdeen gem, as the two would look to control things in the middle of the pitch, allowing those in front of them to operate more freely.
This could see a young, vibrant, central midfielder duo formed by Clement. With Barron already shining for the club since moving from the Dons, adding another young sensation into the starting XI may give him add room for some extra freedom.
Much will depend who Clement can shift out of the door between now and the deadline on Friday evening, but bringing in a talent like Nemo could be a stroke of genius.
Phillipe Clement
Of course, adding in another one or two experienced players may be the route the Belgian goes down, but if a chance to sign Nemo arises, then it must be taken.
This initial £2.5m investment could soon see the Light Blues make a substantial profit on their investment in the next few years.
There could be a flurry of activity happening at Ibrox over the next five days. Watch this space.
On the shortlist: Rangers chasing "outstanding" £2m Wright upgrade
Philippe Clement will need to sell players before he can seal any new signings
Son Heung-min has thrown shade at the Saudi Pro League after he was asked about potentially leaving Tottenham Hotspur and following the likes of Crisitiano Ronaldo to the country.
What's the latest on Son Heung-min?
With his future currently up in the air, there's been a lot of talk surrounding what's next for Son, with many believing his time at Spurs could be drawing to a close soon.
After a fairly disappointing season, where the winger had just 14 goals and six assists in all competitions – a major drop-off compared to the year prior where he scored 24 times and created 10 assists – his future in the Premier League has been a topic of conversation, and it was recently reported that Al-Ittihad have made an offer of £50m for Son, with the 30-year-old the latest in a long line of stars being touted for a move to the Saudi Pro League.
With a reported salary offer of £25m a season, the South Korean would join forces with Karim Benzema if he were to join the side, with the Frenchman recently leaving Real Madrid for the club.
Following Ronaldo's move to Saudi Arabia late last year, numerous teams in the Pro League have begun splashing the cash on numerous high-profile names such as Benzema, Ruben Neves and N'Golo Kante, with Son expected to be the next man to make the switch.
The 30-year-old has spoken out, though, denying any intention of moving to the Saudi Pro League and even throwing a hint of shade at the division.
What did Son Heung-min say about the Saudi Pro League?
When questioned about a potential move to the country, Son shut it down immediately, claiming he wasn't finished in the Premier League and had things he still wanted to accomplish before he could leave.
Following South Korea's recent 1-1 draw against El Savador, telling the press: "I have many things to do in the Premier League and the pride of playing football, to play in my favourite league is important."
He went on to admit that he wasn't quite ready to leave Spurs and wanted to stay at the club this summer, saying: "I want to play more for Tottenham in the Premier League. I'll prepare well when I'm back to Spurs."
In what could be viewed as a dig at the Saudi Pro League's spending power, Son said: "Money doesn't matter to me now."
With several stars being paid absurd amounts of money to make the move, the comment reiterated the 30-year-old's desire to put his ambition over his desire for riches, something not often seen in football's current climate.
Everton are in the market for a new centre-forward this summer after another disappointing season in the Premier League and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.
What's the latest on Everton's interest in Brandon Vazquez?
According to The Athletic, Cinnicinati FC are reluctant to part ways with their star striker this summer and any deal done would likely result in snapping up the services when the MLS season ends.
As per the report, Everton and Hoffenheim are named as potential suitors for Brandon Vazquez, but with another one of their strikers (Brenner) also touted for a move away from the MLS club, the Toffees may be forced to wait until January to bring the centre-forward to Goodison Park.
Would Vazquez be worth the wait for Everton?
It is no secret that Everton found it difficult in front of goal this season due to Richarlison and Anthony Gordon's departure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin continuing to struggle with fitness problems.
The lack of consistent and reliable performers in the final third resulted in the Merseysiders getting caught up in a tight relegation scrap at the bottom of the table and tallying up the second-fewest goals (34) in the entire Premier League.
As a result, the signing of Vazquez would be a massive boost for Sean Dyche as he endeavours to improve the performances, increase goal contributions and lead Everton into a position where they can more comfortably compete.
Over 107 appearances for his current club, the 24-year-old has proven himself to be a "ruthless goal-scoring machine" in the words of journalist Chris Smith.
Indeed, the £3m-rated forward has scored 32 goals and registered 14 assists, averaging a goal contribution every 134 minutes, an output that would be a huge asset to Everton next season and could see him become the perfect Calvert-Lewin heir.
The Toffees striker has been a talisman for the team in the past and been influential when it has mattered most to the club, notably scoring 16 league goals in the 2020/21 campaign. However, over the last 18 months, his constant injury issues have massively hindered his ability to get a run of form going, finding the net just nine times since.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton
Dyche will surely now be desperate for more consistency in the role to ensure mistakes are not repeated in relying on the striker's return, and their top-flight status won't be compromised again next season, so Vazquez could be the perfect player to succeed the 26-year-old.
Unlike the Premier League, the MLS runs by calendar year so currently Vazquez is playing an integral role in America whilst Europe breaks until August, so it is understandable why Cincinnati would be reluctant to part ways with such a huge asset mid-season.
Having said that, Everton are at a point where they have been riding their luck in the top flight for too long and after only being saved in the final 45 minutes of the season from dropping into the Championship, waiting another six months for a striker could be detrimental.
Tottenham Hotspur are now close to agreeing personal terms with David Raya over a potential move to north London this summer.
How much does David Raya earn?
A difficult campaign for the Lilywhites has seen the expected departure of Hugo Lloris emerge with the Frenchman enduring a particularly difficult season.
The 36-year-old only made 25 appearances in the Premier League with injuries seriously hampering his game time as Fraser Forster stepped up in his place.
However, even when he was fit enough to play, the veteran did not exactly impress having conceded 39 goals in those games and only managing to keep seven clean sheets (via Transfermarkt).
It is believed Lloris now has an opportunity on the table from Saudi Arabia to make a big-money move to the Middle East and even the possibility to return to OGC Nice.
And with this in mind, it is said the Lilywites are looking for their Lloris successor this summer and Brentford's Raya is believed to be on their list.
Despite being out of contract in a year's time, the Bees are thought to hold the high valuation of £40m for their shot-stopper this summer.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the north London club are ahead of any other club in the race to potentially sign the Spaniard:
"Tottenham are now ahead of any other club because they are on the verge of reaching an agreement for personal terms with David Raya.
"The player said yes, they are finalising the contract so everything is almost ready between David Raya and Tottenham as new goalkeeper to replace Lloris.
"But the agreement between Tottenham and Brentford is still not completed. Brentford want £40m, for Tottenham, this is way too much especially because the player is out of contract next summer."
Who wants to sign David Raya?
Clearly, the north London side are keen to bring in the Brentford goalkeeper this summer with Tottenham close to agreeing personal terms with the player.
And this is a significant update as it seems the 27-year-old is keen to make the move across London to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This comes amid reported interest from other clubs with both Manchester United and Chelsea also linked with a potential move for him this summer.
Brentford'sDavidRayaholds the ball during the match
Raya has now established himself as a highly-regarded shot-stopper in the Premier League with Sky Sports man Dan Bardell hailing him as "next level with his feet".
And this is something which could be massively improved on at Spurs with Lloris boasting just a 64.3% pass success rate this season (via Fbref).
In comparison, Raya was able to rack up an impressive 77.1% pass success rate as he outperformed the Frenchman in short, medium and long-range passes (via Fbref).
Spurs will be hoping Brentford evaluate the possibility of losing Raya for nothing next summer and lower their price tag, however, it is apparent his manager, Thomas Frank, thinks very highly of him:
"We are very happy with David here, everybody knows he is a £40million-plus goalkeeper if anyone is interested. There is a possibility he will maybe leave this summer for the right price. If that happens we need to be prepared like we are at left-back, right-back, striker."
Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a goal machine ahead of the summer transfer window, as Julen Lopetegui looks to fix his side’s scoring woes.
Wolves found the net just 31 times in 38 games this season, making them the Premier League’s lowest scorers.
The club could end their low scoring streak in one signing this summer, despite pressures of FFP putting strain on the Spaniard’s ability to spend.
What’s the latest on Georges Mikautadze to Wolves?
According to French outlet le10sport last week, the Midlands club are “ready” to position themselves to sign FC Metz striker Georges Mikautadze.
The report states that the asking price from the Ligue 2 club would be around the €20m mark, making him available to Wolves for just £17m.
What could Georges Mikautadze bring to Wolves?
For only a snip price, Lopetegui could get his hands on a prolific goalscorer who has found the net on 24 occasions in all competitions this season.
Playing in Ligue 2 with Metz, the 22-year-old ended the campaign as the league's top scorer, with 23 strikesin the competition, as well as scoring one in the Coupe de France.
Hailed as “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the young forward has more than just goal-scoring ability in his arsenal, having registered nine assists across all competitions also.
His talents could provide Wolves with an essence of the spirit at Molineux when Raul Jimenez was firing, and the club were pushing towards the top six.
In both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, the Midlands club finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Santo, with the two recurring successes in those seasons being the form of the Mexican striker.
The talisman scored a combined total of 30 goals and registered 14 assists over the impressive terms, however, since his devastating injury the goals have dried up and so has Wolves’ form.
Lauded as “remarkable” by former teammate Conor Coady back in 2020, the forward was the battery fuelling Nuno’s attack, and inspired his team to dream about competing with the big fish in the Premier League.
What Wolves relished in having during those years is what the club is missing now, being absent going forward which has punished their performance in the competition, with the club sitting bottom of the table on Christmas day last year.
Lopetegui must improve his side’s ability to find the net, which he could do so in signing the “Georgian killer” Mikautadze, who has an innate ability to contribute to goals, just as Jimenez did in those glory years.
This season, the Georgian has a scoring frequency in Ligue 2 of every 134 minutes, averaging 1.1 shots on target per game, similar to that of the Mexican in 2019/20 who averaged 1.2 on target per game and a frequency of 191 minutes – as per Sofascore.
At just 22-year-old, the Spaniard could have a talent to lead the line at Molineux for years to come in a player that would cost the club less than £20m.
Newcastle United's fate has been sealed and the Tyneside giants will compete in the Champions League next season after emphatic seasonal success this year, and requisite moves on the transfer front must now be made.
What's the latest on Newcastle's pursuit of Harry Maguire?
One name that has entered transfer circulation is Manchester United's world-record £80m centre-back Harry Maguire, with a recent update from Dean Jones stating that the defender is set to depart Old Trafford this summer after falling out of favour under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag.
While there is a vested interest in the 30-year-old from Serie A outfits such as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus, Newcastle have also been credited as possible suitors, should the Red Devils grant Maguire's departure to a top-four Premier League rival.
It's thought a potential loan move could even be on the cards for the centre-back.
Should Newcastle sign Harry Maguire?
While Maguire has endured a turbulent ride in Manchester at times, perhaps none more so than this season where he has found a regular starting berth hard to come by, he is a commanding and aerially superlative "colossus" – as dubbed by Simon Jordan – to wield at the foot of the pitch.
In March, 90min reported that Maguire was among the players at the Theatre of Dreams informed that they are free to depart at the conclusion of the season, with the Magies stated to be 'monitoring' the situation.
Maguire has made 31 appearances across all competitions this term but has started only eight times in the Premier League, and with £190k-per-week wages, it is unlikely he will remain beyond the summer with a utility role.
Praised for his "dominating" demeanour on the pitch by Ten Hag, Maguire would be a good addition for Newcastle because injecting an imposing presence into a defence that boasts the joint-meanest defence in the English top-flight this term – alongside champions Manchester City – will only enrich the flourishing current crop.
Man United's Harry Maguire
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 17% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 20% for progressive carries, the top 11% for rate of blocks and the top 12% for aerials won per 90.
He would surely thrive alongside Sven Botman, who has been a revelation at St. James' Park since signing for £35m from Lille last summer.
While Maguire isn't the most mobile of defenders, he does boast an imposing physicality, which could run in tandem with Botman's own brutish approach to his play.
Indeed the £90k-per-week Dutchman has been lauded as a "leader" by journalist Josh Bunting, a quality he certainly shares with Maguire, while averaging a Premier League match rating of 6.99, as per Sofascore, completing 87% of his passes, making 3.3 clearances per match and winning 67% of his duels.
Such a tenacious and iron-clad partnership would only bear fruit for Howe, and signing Maguire might actually be a shrewd move to take as the Magpies continue their ascent.