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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) have been told that it will cost up to £70m to sign Moises Caicedo for Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Impressive few months

Caicedo’s profile is certainly rising, from the start that he has made to the season with Brighton and Hove Albion to impressing with Ecuador at the World Cup.

At Brighton, he has been their joint-third best-performing player in the Premier League so far, with only Alexis Mac Allister in the squad matching his 3.1 tackles per game in the division (WhoScored), helping them up to seventh in the table before the mid-season break.

Caicedo was also a standout performer for his nation in Qatar, playing in every game in the group stage and even managing to get himself on the scoresheet (WhoScored), and now he is attracting interest from some top Premier League clubs.

The Latest: Could cost £70m

As per The Sun, Newcastle have been told that it will cost them between £60m and £70m if they want to sign Caicedo, having failed to sign him in 2021 when the Seagulls snapped him up for a much cheaper £3.6m.

However, they will face competition from top-flight heavyweights Manchester United and Chelsea for his signature.

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The Verdict: Another club-record…

Having signed Alexander Isak for a club-record £63m in the summer, the Tynesiders could potentially break their transfer record again within the space of a year if they pay £70m for Caicedo.

Hailed as an ‘exceptional player and character’ by his team-mates, the 21-year-old is already one of the best players in his position, ranking in the 85th percentile for defensive midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for average tackles and blocks per game per FBRef.

The big transfer fee is always a risk, but Caicedo looks like a player who could really grow at the Magpies over the next few years if he comes to St James’ Park.

Chelsea are looking to ‘bring in’ two new midfielders in 2023, with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo ‘definitely’ on the list of targets, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Lowdown: Triple exit on the cards?

The Premier League giants could be very light in the centre of the pitch next summer with Jorginho and N’Golo Kante’s contracts expiring at the end of the season, and both are yet to put pen to paper on fresh terms.

Denis Zakaria will also be returning to his parent club Juventus following the conclusion of his loan spell, meaning that Graham Potter will likely need to dip into the market to find suitable reinforcements.

The Latest: Phillips’ comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Phillips revealed that whilst Chelsea do still have the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek available, Todd Boehly is looking to make some new recruits in midfield over the next 12 months, with one player in particular name-checked.

The journalist said: “I think the way things are looking at the moment, Chelsea are potentially going to look to bring in two new midfielders within the next two windows. And Caicedo is definitely one of them on that list.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

The Mirror have claimed that Brighton are willing to entertain offers in the region of £85m for Caicedo, and whilst this is a large figure, he would be more than worth the purchase.

Dubbed a ‘machine man’ by Jacek Kulig, the Ecuadorian currently averages 2.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game this season and has a pass success rate of 87.3% (WhoScored).

That’s more tackles per game than anyone in the current Chelsea squad, while he’d also be in the top five at Stamford Bridge for the other metrics (WhoScored).

With Potter and Caicedo having worked together at the Amex Stadium, this pre-existing relationship could help to give the Blues an advantage in the race for the 21-year-old’s services next year.

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves has been offered to Champions League giants Barcelona by his agent Jorge Mendes, according to Mundo Deportivo (via Talking Wolves).

The Lowdown: Neves’ Wolves career

Having arrived at the club in 2017, the Portugal international has played a crucial role in the Old Gold’s success since their promotion to the Premier League four years ago.

The 25-year-old has made 222 appearances for Wolves, having played the full 90 minutes in every league game so far this season.

The midfielder was named club captain this summer after Conor Coady left to join Everton on a season-long loan, a deal which includes a purchase option for the Toffees.

The Latest: Barcelona transfer links

According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo on Saturday, as relayed by Talking Wolves on Twitter, Mendes has once again offered Barcelona the chance to sign Neves from the Midlands outfit.

However, it is reported that the La Liga club’s manager Xavi currently prefers other options heading into the January transfer window.

As per Mundo Deportivo’s report, Neves’ intermediary met with Camp Nou chiefs on Thursday, and the player was one topic discussed amongst many others between the two parties.

The Verdict: He’d be a massive loss

When looking at the 25-year-old’s underlying statistics, it is clear to see just how big of a blow his departure from Molineux would be for Wolves.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the midfielder ranks in the 92nd percentile for clearances, the 86th percentile for passes attempted and the 85th percentile for non-penalty goals.

This indicates a player who is willing to work hard out of possession, keep the play progressing and make an impact in the final third; and having earned stylistic comparisons to the likes of West Ham’s Declan Rice, it is no wonder the Portugal international has been dubbed ‘outstanding’ by journalist Tim Spiers.

Consequently, Wolves should do everything that they can to keep hold of their captain, as he has proven to be so crucial at Molineux in recent years.

West Ham United are holding talks ‘behind the scenes’ regarding a new contract for Craig Dawson, according to reliable journalist Paul Brown.

The Lowdown: Wolves move collapses

The Athletic reported that the Irons accepted a £4m bid from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers for the centre-back on deadline day, though a move fell through due to GSBK missing out on their replacement in Southampton’s Jan Bednarek.

The 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season which makes an exit increasingly likely, but it appears that David Moyes is keen to extend his stay at the London Stadium.

The Latest: West Ham enter Dawson talks

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Brown revealed that West Ham are currently in negotiations with Dawson over putting pen to paper on fresh terms:

“That is going on behind the scenes. I think Dawson knows he’s well-respected and well-liked at West Ham. They don’t particularly want him to go.”

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The Verdict: Let him go?

Dawson has been a loyal servant to West Ham over the years having made 80 appearances, but it would be the right decision to allow him to leave during the upcoming January transfer window.

The ‘top class’ veteran, as dubbed by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has only made two starts in the top flight this season, and picked up an injury whilst in Europa League action on Thursday, which could now see him sidelined for some time.

Dawson wanted to move to the Midlands for family reasons which suggests that he doesn’t see his long-term future with the Irons, and that’s why an exit would be best for both parties.

Leeds United had an official at Hampden Park on Wednesday evening to watch Ukraine’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, according to 90min.

The Lowdown: Mudryk profiled

Mudryk is primarily a left winger but can also play on the right and as an attacking midfielder.

The 21-year-old, described as a ‘serious talent’ by Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna, has progressed through the academy with the Ukrainian side and has made 31 senior appearances.

He’s contributed to 16 goals in those games and is at the peak of his powers, valued at a career-high £13.5m by Transfermarkt.

The Latest: Leeds links

90min shared a story on Thursday regarding Mudryk, claiming that 11 Premier League sides had scouts in attendance in Scotland.

Leeds were one of those, with the report suggesting ‘most clubs were keeping an eye on Mudryk’.

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The Verdict: Evening to forget

Plenty of Premier League scouts were seemingly there for Mudryk, but he actually had an evening to forget at Hampden Park. As per SofaScore, Mudryk was the worst player on the pitch with a poor match rating of 5.3/10.

Playing on the left, Mudryk missed a big chance, lost 13 of his 14 duels, failed to complete any of his six attempted dribbles and lost possession 16 times.

It’s safe to say the Leeds scout sent to watch the player wouldn’t be providing a glowing report, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Whites continue to track the young forward.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in signing Goncalo Ramos in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has revealed that the Magpies are keen on the Benfica centre-forward and that he is one of a number of options on their list.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “The word that we were getting last week was that Ramos was another one that they’d looked at on the list, kind of similar to the lad Benjamin Šeško, who’s going to RB Leipzig, who Manchester United looked at as well.

“I think there’s such a small pool of players available at the moment and multiple clubs are looking at them, that clubs are very sort of unsure.

“They don’t want any information getting out there because you don’t want to alert other clubs that are down the line with someone.”

Just imagine him & Allan Saint-Maximin

Newcastle could land the player Saint-Maximin has been asking for the club to sign by snapping up a deal to bring Ramos to St. James’ Park in the coming weeks.

The Magpies winger said in an interview last season that he could reach up to 15 assists in a season with a player capable of finishing the chances that he creates. He topped the charts for the Toon last term with 49 key passes in 35 games.

In Ramos, Dan Ashworth may be able to test the Frenchman’s theory by signing a player who has shown that he has the potential to be an elite goalscorer.

The dynamo, who could leave Benfica for a fee in the region of £35m, has been dubbed “prolific” by scout Jacek Kulig and that is backed up by his form so far this season.

He has racked up five goals and three assists in five Liga Portugal and Champions League matches this season, after scoring eight times in 36 outings in those competitions last term.

This comes after he caught the eye for Benfica at youth level. In 54 games for academy sides, Ramos scored 27 times and set up nine.

The 21-year-old has also been superb for Portugal’s U21s and U19s with 23 goals in 33 caps for his country at those age levels.

These statistics show that the potential is there for Ramos to be the finisher that Saint-Maximin believes he needs to play alongside.

Therefore, they could end up being a dream duo on Tyneside by combining for goals on a regular basis in the Premier League, if the Benfica man can adapt to English football and the Frenchman can live up to his word.

Transfer insider Dean Jones believes Che Adams is the perfect fit to end Leeds United’s striker search. 

The lowdown: Orta approach for Adams

The Whites have been reliably linked with a move for Adams in recent weeks, with reports suggesting that Southampton could be willing to sanction the departure of the striker and an approach from Victor Orta revealed.

Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, Everton and Newcastle are all also believed to be keen on the 26-year-old Scotland international, with the south coast club demanding £15million for their man.

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Now, as Leeds continue to be linked with attacking options such as Ismaila Sarr, Joao Pedro and Adams himself, one well-informed onlooker has stated why the Scot could be the ideal candidate to bolster Jesse Marsch’s ranks…

The latest: ‘Good fit’

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones – a journalist for Eurosport – claimed that the 19-cap frontman is the perfect target from Orta.

He said: “I can see why they would want to land him. They need that central option up front far more than they need another wide player, in my opinion.

“They keep getting linked to wide players, but they’ve got loads of them so I think Che Adams would be a good fit.”

The verdict: Spot on

Operating almost exclusively as a centre-forward throughout his career, Adams would certainly provide genuine competition to Patrick Bamford for a place in the starting XI.

Last season, the former Birmingham frontman – who was hailed as ‘fantastic’ by his manager Hasenhuttl in 2020 – scored eight times and provided three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions for what was a struggling Saints side for the most part.

Holding an estimated market value of £16.2million and under contract until 2024 (Transfermarkt), signing Adams for the mooted fee would represent a smart piece of business from Orta and Andrea Radrizanni, adding much-needed strength in depth to the attacking options in the process.

Additionally, with Southampton going through a period of unrest at present, the player could be keen to seek pastures new and a move to Yorkshire could be the ideal solution.

Everton have been linked with a move for Leander Dendoncker this summer, and a reliable source has now made a claim about the Toffees’ interest in the player.

What’s the latest?

Transfer insider Pete O’Rourke has told Football FanCast why he thinks Everton should sign the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder this summer.

The journalist claims: “Dendoncker is someone who would tick a lot of boxes for Everton.”

“Premier League proven so he could come straight into the team and can fill a number of roles, defensive midfield, attacking midfield and can slot in at the back as well, depending on what formation you want to play.”

“So when you get players like that, they are gold dust to be fair, it gives you so many options in your squad, and Dendoncker wasn’t a regular in that Wolves team so he might be interested in a move away if he’s guaranteed first team football at Everton.”

Huge Allan upgrade

It is no secret that Everton are in desperate need of reinforcements in every area of the squad this summer as their weaknesses were laid bare in the Premier League last season when they endured a difficult relegation battle.

Frank Lampard only has a week left until Everton kick off their next campaign, so identifying the right players who can make the positive impact needed to gain a good start in the top flight is essential.

Dendoncker may not get the regular first-team football that he would like at Molineux but he certainly performs when he is given the opportunity to play in Bruno Lage’s side, something that he proved last term.

According to FBRef, the Belgian scored more goals (two), had a better shots on target accuracy (43.5%) and a better pass completion rate (87.3%) and won many more aerial duels (40) than Everton midfielder Allan last season, proving that he would be a huge upgrade on the Brazilian if the 27-year-old were to leave Molineux for Merseyside.

Dendoncker has been lavished with praise for his contribution and role at Wolves, with Lage hailing his £12m gem as a “top player” following an outstanding performance in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur last season. His team-mate Max Kilman added: “He’s brilliant, nothing fazes him. He knows his task and he doesn’t feel the pressure.”

All things considered, it seems that Dendoncker would be the perfect profile of player for Lampard to bring in to ensure that the Toffees don’t find themselves in another sticky situation when they return to action next weekend in the Premier League.

AND in other news – “At the table..”: Journalist drops big Everton transfer update that’ll excite supporters

Leeds United are reportedly keen on a shock move for Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe as the Whites attempt to sign a replacement for Barcelona-bound Raphinha.

What’s the word?

According to Spanish outlet Diario de Sevilla, the Elland Road club are believed to be one of the teams who are interested in landing the Cote d’Ivoire international this summer, having seen their Brazilian talisman complete a move to the Camp Nou on Friday.

The report claims that the 27-year-old – who joined the Gunners in a club-record £72m deal from Lille in 2019 – has recently changed his agent in order to potentially prompt a departure from the Emirates Stadium, having failed to truly establish himself under Mikel Arteta.

With the north London outfit likely looking to recoup some of that hefty transfer fee, the suggestion is that the asking price could be in excess of €25m (£21m), with La Liga outfit Sevilla – along with Marseille and Lyon – also said to be in the running.

Raphinha heir

There may be some in Yorshire who are scratching their heads at this possible deal, although Pepe could well prove to be the ideal heir to the departed Raphinha, with Jesse Marsch and co potentially able to offer the 27-year-old the starting berth that he has been craving at his current club.

There’s no doubting that the £22.5m-rated forward has underperformed in the Premier League over the last few years in relation to his initial cost, although some would argue that he has hardly been handed a fair crack of the whip, notably earning just five top-flight starts last season.

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That lack of action appears particularly unfair when considering his impressive form during the 2020/21 campaign, in which the £140k-per-week gem registered ten goals and one assist from 29 league outings, having also provided ten goal contributions in just 13 Europa League appearances that season.

His previous form during his days in Ligue 1 also demonstrates the undoubted talent that the Ivorian wizard possesses, having chipped in with 37 goals and 18 assists in 79 games in all competitions during his time at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

That haul included a sparkling run of form in the 2018/19 campaign in which he netted 22 goals and provided 11 assists in the French top flight, with that remarkable record unsurprisingly catching the attention of those at Arsenal.

Although he hasn’t shown it consistently enough since his move to England, the 34-cap forward clearly has the quality to pose a real threat in the final third, with a fresh start potentially all that is needed to spark a career revival.

With his “lightning fast” speed – as described by radio host Kevin Egan – and a devastating left foot, the 6 foot menace possesses striking similarities to that of the aforementioned Raphinha, with the pair both at their brutal best when cutting in off the right flank.

Attempting to replicate the form of a player who provided 29 goals and assists in the league during his two-year spell with the Whites certainly won’t be easy, although Pepe appears to have the skill and quality to become a standout figure in his own right.

It would no doubt be a risk, although it could prove to be a gamble worth taking for Leeds’ sporting director Victor Orta to bring in someone who could be the perfect heir to the Brazilian.

AND in other news: Victor Orta plotting Leeds bid for “formidable” £19m sensation, he’s “one of the best”

An update has emerged on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Christian Eriksen during the summer transfer window…

What’s the talk?

Northern Echo reporter Scott Wilson has claimed that the club have held discussions with the player’s agent as they attempt to sign the midfielder in the coming weeks.

He Tweeted: “TRANSFER LATEST: NUFC have held preliminary talks with Christian Eriksen’s representatives – but accept that, at this stage, Man Utd and Tottenham are much likelier destinations for the Dane, who will not be staying at Brentford…”

The Denmark international signed a short-term deal with the Bees in January and can now join another team on a free transfer ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Supporters will be excited

Whilst Newcastle are not the favourites to land him, supporters will be excited by the club’s attempts to snap the gem up and will be buzzing with the prospect of watching the magician in black and white next season.

If the Magpies are able to fight off interest from Tottenham and Manchester United then it would be a huge coup for the club as Eriksen is a brilliant talent who has proven that he is an exceptional Premier League performer.

Prior to spells with Brentford and Inter, the midfielder spent seven seasons in the English top-flight with Spurs and averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.22 or higher in four of those campaigns – with two of them coming before the site registered ratings.

This illustrates how much experience he has in the division and shows that he knows what it takes to deliver high-quality performances on a consistent basis.

After suffering a cardiac arrest at the European Championships, Eriksen made a remarkable return to the Premier League with Brentford in January of this year.

He slotted straight back into his old self as he averaged a phenomenal SofaScore rating of 7.53 across 11 appearances for the club. In that time, he chipped in with one goal and four assists as he created a whopping 2.8 chances per game from central midfield.

These outstanding statistics prove that he still has what it takes to be a brilliant performer in the Premier League, with BBC reporter John Bennett dubbing him a “world-class” player after an impressive display for the Bees against Chelsea.

Therefore, Newcastle supporters will now be excited by the thought of the club signing Eriksen and will be hoping that their team can win the race for his signature.

AND in other news, NUFC can land their own Foden in deal for “explosive” £30m dynamo, he’s “dangerous”…