Newcastle United have opened talks to sign Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, according to TEAMtalk.

The Magpies have struck an agreement with La Liga giants Barcelona to allow Gordon to depart in a deal worth £70m, with the winger set to earn a whopping £300,000-a-week at the Camp Nou.

Eddie Howe is need keen to add reinforcements to the squad with the deal all but done, and the club have made their move to bring in a top target as his immediate and direct replacement.

Newcastle Open Talks to Sign Abde Ezzalzouli

Ezzalzouli, who has been described as a superstar, enjoyed a sensational campaign for Betis this season with 14 goals and nine assists in all competitions, as the team claimed a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

But the 24-year-old’s performances have attracted the attention of several clubs, including Newcastle, and now the Toon have made their move by opening talks over a mega-money deal to take him to St James’ Park.

Newcastle scouts had been keeping a close eye on the Moroccan even before Gordon’s move to Barcelona was agreed, and they have now accelerated that interest as he is viewed as the perfect replacement.

Ezzalzouli’s camp have been very open to a move to the Premier League and Newcastle, with the player attracted to their long-term project and the prospect of playing in England’s top flight.

Betis are expecting the winger to move on this summer and are currently pointing to his €60m (£52m) release clause. However, it’s understood that they would be willing to negotiate a slightly lower fee if clubs came forward with serious offers.

Newcastle Must Be Quick and Aggressive in the Market

Last year Newcastle were looking to go big in the transfer market, but they pondered too much and then suffered when other clubs stepped in for their top targets and best player, in Alexander Isak.

This summer, they simply cannot afford to make the same mistake again, and after agreeing to let Gordon leave early in the window, they have positioned themselves well to have time to find a replacement and ease the transition.

However, now they must get the deals done quickly too to help the new players settle in and give Howe time to work with his new squad. This is a deal which looks to be on the table to get done, and the club cannot afford to ponder again considering how much interest and competition there is in his signature.

After confirming a return to the Champions League next season, along with the appointment of Michael Carrick, work now begins for Manchester United to improve the playing squad at the manager’s disposal.

The Red Devils were much-improved over the course of the past campaign, but there are concerns over the lack of squad depth for a longer season ahead, having played the fewest possible matches for 2025/26.

That is expected to jump up a notch, and with it is a need to improve the options available at Man United, with plenty of targets emerging in the transfer market.

Midfielders remain a priority, with Ederson set to join United in the coming weeks, but there is also a look into the forward department as well.

William Gomes Emerges As Man United Target

One of the targets out wide is FC Porto youngster William Gomes, as Spanish outlet AS reports that Manchester United have made enquiries about his availability.

The Red Devils aren’t alone in admiring the 20-year-old Brazilian, with a number of clubs including Atletico Madrid and AS Roma in their interest.

Gomes, who largely features on the right flank, has a release clause worth €80 million (£69.3 million) in his deal, but that would appear somewhat expensive for the early stages of his career.

That said, the admiration is there for his potential, with the report claiming he is being compared to Luis Diaz at Porto, underlining the quality he has.

Diaz left Porto to impress at Liverpool, and has taken that up another notch at Bayern Munich. A similar path could be ahead for Gomes.

The youngster made 46 appearances for Porto this campaign, scoring 13 goals and assisting twice, adding end product to his ability with the ball.

As it stands, the Portuguese club seemingly want to resist a sale for another year, but it remains to be seen whether a concrete offer could tempt them into a deal.

Man United’s Squad Balancing Act

Now that Manchester United have seemingly reset and got the squad where they need it to be to gain Champions League qualification, the challenge is to build on it and not move backwards.

That means a balancing act for those at the top between talent capable of challenging in the here and now, and players who can grow and become top stars in their own right.

In Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, there are two forwards at the peak of their powers, while Benjamin Sesko is stepping in the right direction to join them.

Adding players who can contribute while offering longevity is the challenge, and Man United can’t fall in the trap of landing players with no value beyond a short-term contract.

However, they can’t go too far the other way and only land potential. It’s all a balancing act, one that means for every promising player like Gomes, there must be someone who can contribute to the upcoming challenge.

Exactly how they navigate that in the market, is down to Jason Wilcox and his team.

David Raya has turned out to be a shrewd piece of business for Arsenal. Having initially signed on a season-long loan, the Spaniard joined the club permanently in the 2024 summer transfer window after an impressive debut term at the Emirates.

Having been a key component in the Gunners’ last three seasons, Raya has arguably taken another step up in his journey to becoming a Premier League champion, consistently being one of the best goalkeepers in the division and being a major reason behind making it to the Champions League final too. But, things were not always going too well for the Spaniard.

In fact, the goalkeeper’s career could’ve looked very different if he didn’t have the mental strength to overcome a horrific injury that he suffered during his time at Blackburn Rovers. It was so bad, in fact, that his appearance now looks quite different.

Raya’s Facial Injury at Blackburn

For those who have been following Raya’s career for a long time, they would likely have noticed the change in the Spaniard’s appearance. This is due to an incident that took place in 2018, as former Premier League winners Blackburn took on West Bromwich Albion.

During the game, which finished 1-1, the shot-stopper collided with striker Jay Rodriguez and ended up with a broken nose as a result. The injury was so gruesome that many of those on the field couldn’t bear to look. Due to the severity of the injury, Raya had to receive oxygen from an oxygen mask and was immediately transported to a hospital.

As per the Daily Mail, Rovers boss Tony Mowbray revealed at full-time just how bad the injury was in explicit detail:

Rodriguez, who is known for spells at Burnley and Southampton, was left feeling incredibly guilty about his part in proceedings despite it being completely accidental. He stated:

“It’s not nice to see. I was chasing the ball, I tried to get out of the way, but I’ve caught him with the top of my foot. I’ve been told he’s gone to hospital and I’m gutted about that.”

Incredibly, Raya was not ruled out for a significant period of time. The Catalan native was forced to wear a protective mask upon his return, but was able to avoid any reconstructive surgery until the end of the season.

Although he initially feared the worst, the Spain international was undeterred and admitted to having zero intentions of letting it impact his style of goalkeeping. He told the Lancashire Telegraph:

Raya opted to put off his surgery due to the fact that had he chosen to have it immediately after the injury occurred, he would’ve missed up to eight weeks of action. Not wanting to be unavailable for such a prolonged period, the former Brentford man showed commendable courage in returning between the sticks within two weeks of the accident. It is this type of character that has helped establish him as Arteta’s number one in north London.

Raya’s Career so Far

While now one of the English top flight’s finest goalkeepers, and indeed one of the best in the world, Raya’s journey to the Premier League has been an arduous one. Before he was a permanent fixture for Blackburn, the Spaniard was playing non-league football for Southport United in 2014.

The loan move gave him much-needed experience, with his manager at the time, Gary Brabin, stating that initial concerns about his inexperience were quickly alleviated as soon as he got a taste of senior football.

Since then, he has gone from strength to strength, representing both Brentford and Arsenal in the Premier League. As the undisputed number one at the Emirates, having dislodged Aaron Ramsdale to do so, the Spain international is a major reason as to why the Gunners’ rearguard is the best in English football’s top-flight.

To overcome such a horrible injury and reach those heights is a testament to Raya’s determination to reach the top, something which will stand him in good stead in the coming years.

All stats courtesy of the Premier League and Transfermarkt – correct as of 29-05-26.