Newcastle United have been left frustrated once again, as the club enter the market for a new forward signing during a busy summer transfer window.

The Magpies were pushing to sign Victor Munoz, viewing the Osasuna and Spain winger as an ideal option to replace Anthony Gordon after his move to Barcelona.

While a fee had been agreed, along with personal terms, a deal fell through out of nowhere. Liverpool hijacked the move, joining the race at the last minute and securing the signing in double quick time.

As a result, Newcastle are back in the market for wingers, and there is a new option on the cards this summer for Eddie Howe and his team.

Newcastle Want Abde Ezzalzouli

After missing out on Munoz, it appears as though Newcastle are shopping in Spain again, as Mundo Deportivo claims that the side are after Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli, better known as just Abde.

The former Barcelona star is valued at roughly £52 million by the Verdiblancos, with 20 per cent of that fee set to go back to the Blaugrana as a result.

It’s claimed that Real Betis are well aware of the interest from Newcastle, and are already looking in the market for potential replacements for the 24-year-old.

Abde, who plays on the left wing, featured 43 times across all competitions for his club last season, picking up an impressive tally of 15 goals and 13 assists.

That included 19 goal involvements in La Liga, while there were some impressive displays in the Europa League over the course of the campaign as well.

There was some hope that his form would result in a World Cup call-up, but an untimely injury ruled him out from joining up with Morocco for the tournament.

That could, however, lead to Newcastle getting a deal over the line quicker.

Newcastle Must Get Deal Done

Newcastle’s summer transfer window last year was nothing short of a failure. The inability to sell at the right time and land players made the club look weak and the squad look even weaker.

They cannot afford to do the same this time around. The sale of Gordon suggests they have learned from the lessons of late sales from last year, but there is more to do.

The hijack for Munoz shows a vulnerability, especially when it comes to negotiating the right deals, and when coming up against other big clubs in the market.

Therefore, a quick deal for Abde must be struck. It would show intent and gets the players in place for pre-season with Howe, which would be ideal.

Liverpool need some transfers to fall in place elsewhere across the market to help unlock a potential sale this summer, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Reds are currently firmly focused on potential signings, with the aim of improving the squad available for new head coach Andoni Iraola next season.

Jeremy Jacquet’s move has been agreed since the start of the year, as he officially joins this summer, while the signing of Victor Munoz was confirmed swiftly after triggering his release clause at Osasuna.

Attention is then placed on the signing of Yan Diomande, as talks continue with RB Leipzig over a deal to sign the highly-rated Ivorian winger.

With that deal set to be the most expensive of the summer for Liverpool, some sales may be needed to help balance the books. One such move appears to be on the cards, but only if other deals in the market line up.

Curtis Jones Transfer Latest

Curtis Jones continues to be linked with an exit from Liverpool, as the midfielder enters the final year under contract at Anfield.

The Reds’ academy graduate has been rumoured with interest from Inter Milan, having been linked with the Nerazzurri back in the January transfer window.

However, any sale for the 25-year-old will depend on moves elsewhere. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that there is a transfer domino or two that needs to fall before any deal can be agreed.

Manchester City’s £130 million move for Elliot Anderson is believed to be the starting point, as Nottingham Forest will need to find a replacement in the market.

Inter Milan’s Davide Fratessi is believed to be their top target, and with Inter open to a deal, any fee landed from him will be reinvested into getting a transfer for Jones over the line.

It’s unclear exactly how long that could take, which may make it difficult for Liverpool to get a sale over the line. But it’s clear that a transfer is still possible.

Liverpool Losing A Key Star In Jones

An exit for Jones may prove to be a costly mistake for Liverpool, as the midfielder nears the peak years of his career and has the potential to grow even further.

The 25-year-old has been described as “incredible” for his displays at Anfield over the years, but he hasn’t done quite enough to secure a place for himself in the team regularly.

Jones may prove his quality in Serie A, much in the same way Scott McTominay has at Napoli ever since he left Manchester United, something not many saw coming.

If the academy graduate is keen to leave, however, a move may show that Liverpool are finally being proactive when it comes to sales and contract situations.

Too many players have entered the final year of their deals in recent seasons, with a few of them moving on for next to nothing.

An exit for Jones would show an ability to recoup a decent fee for a player who isn’t in the club’s plans. That may help other transfers go through in the coming weeks.

Former Manchester United forward Mark Hughes has revealed the sudden passing of his 38-year-old son, Alex, in a heartbreaking statement on Saturday night.

Hughes senior, 62, most recently managed Carlisle United, but he left the club at the end of May after failing to win promotion from the National League.

Prior to that, he had a journeyman managerial career with stops such as Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Southampton, and Bradford City. But now, family matters are of primary importance, following this week’s sad news.

Mark Hughes’ Emotional Statement After Passing of Alex

In an emotional family statement shared via the League Managers Association (LMA), he wrote: “Jill and I are totally heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved son Alex.

It concluded: “We ask for privacy during this sad time as we come to terms with our family’s loss,” with the circumstances around the tragedy currently unknown.

Born in 1987, while dad Mark was contracted to Barcelona, Alex had a brief football career in Wales before moving into a variety of behind-the-scenes roles. As per The Sun, he earned his stripes as a match analyst at Blackburn before Man City took him on as a scout.

Alex then worked as chief analyst at another of his dad’s former clubs, Fulham, before forging his own path with advisory roles at 1860 Munich and Reading. In 2024, he took over as director of football at AFC Fylde before returning to prominent scouting roles at Morecambe and Grimsby.