NEWCASTLE UNITED are exploring a move for MARSEILLE centre back Leonardo Balerdi.

The 26-year-old Argentine player has been making a mark under Roberto De Zerbi, catching the eye of Juventus recently. He has past experience with their coach Igor Tudor during his time at Marseille.

However, with Juventus focusing on several prospects and constrained by their budget, Newcastle has identified a chance this transfer window and is exploring the possibility of sealing a deal for around £35 million.

Newcastle continues to be interested in a potential agreement for NOTTINGHAM FOREST‘s Anthony Elanga even though their initial offer of £45 million was rejected. Elanga is transitioning from agents CAA Stellar to Michael Jarman, who also manages Villarreal’s Arnaut Danjuma and is closely connected to boxer Anthony Joshua.

WEST HAM insiders say that Newcastle are also among the clubs showing interest in Mohammed Kudus.

Mail Sport reported last month that TOTTENHAM had joined the list of clubs keen on the Ghana international and they have held positive initial talks. However, it is understood all the ‘top six’ have made varying levels of enquiry with Chelsea and Arsenal still among them.

Kudus has switched representatives recently to Roof agency who have the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Kai Havertz and Crystal Palace target Ousmane Diomande in their stable.

West Ham need to sell to appease PSR concerns and will compromise their valuation on Kudus to around £65m, to enable them to strengthen elsewhere.

Liverpool midfielder and England Under 21 international Tyler Morton is among the many options on West Ham’s radar. He is valued around £15m, though has interest from Ajax and Portuguese side Braga.

Diaz sale a no-go for Liverpool 

Liverpool have no plans to sell Luis Diaz this summer.

No formal offers have been made for the Colombian though Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr and their considerable financial clout could yet change that.

Bayern Munich are the latest club to discuss Diaz internally but they are juggling options which also include MANCHESTER UNITED‘s Marcus Rashford and Nico Williams of Athletic Club – both of whom want to join Barcelona. The Spanish side are the only team to have contacted Liverpool so far for Diaz but that was a basic telephone enquiry and has not progressed.

Liverpool are still awaiting offers from NAPOLI for Darwin Nunez and are aware of interest building from Bundesliga sides for Harvey Elliott, who could be sold for offers above £40m with a buyback option. BRIGHTON are long-term admirers too.

City v Liverpool for Salford star Wright 

MANCHESTER CITY are ready to rival Liverpool for SALFORD CITY‘s promising young striker Will Wright.

The 17-year-old made his senior debut for Salford City against Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup in January. Although he only played a few minutes of the 8-0 defeat, his elevation to the first team underlined Salford’s faith in his ability.

Wright, who scored over 50 goals at all levels for the club last season, was spotted playing for local sides Euxton Villa and Fylde only two years ago.

He is in the second year of his scholarship and Liverpool are keen to take him now and have made an offer.

However, that has still to be accepted and City are poised to make a rival proposal, understood to be in excess of £100,000 plus add-ons.

Arsenal, Brentford, Leicester City and Burnley have also checked on the 6ft 3in teenager, though it is understood he is keen on a move to Liverpool.

Salford have recently turned down offers from BURNLEY for another teenage forward Kyrell Malcolm.

Toon coup for England age-group captain 

Newcastle are poised to pull off a coup by signing former Liverpool prospect Isaac Moran.

The 16-year-old turned down the offer of a scholar’s contract at Liverpool’s academy and left the club. The teenage midfielder made his breakthrough with the Under 18s last season and has skippered England at youth level.

Latest on Mbeumo and Manchester United 

Manchester United are continuing to discuss a restructured bid for BRENTFORD forward Bryan Mbeumo with optimism they can reach agreement by the end of the week over a deal worth around £65m.

The Bees are signing FEYENOORD‘s 20-year old attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo for £17m plus £4.25m in add-ons.

Arsenal back in for Mosquera and Eze’s No 1 target

ARSENAL are making a revised offer for VALENCIA defender Cristhian Mosquera.

The Spanish club have made former Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay their new CEO and have made a counter offer to Mosquera but he wants a move to Arsenal. 

The Gunners are emerging as the favoured club for Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze and will sign Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard from Brentford after completing Kepa Arrizabalaga’s £5m switch from Chelsea on Tuesday.

Everton’s two defensive targets

EVERTON have asked about Brighton defender Adam Webster.

Manager David Moyes saw Jarrad Branthwaite sign a new five-year contract on Tuesday but wants more cover at centre back with James Tarkowski recovering from hamstring surgery and Michael Keane out of contract.

Brighton signed Webster, 30, from Bristol City in a deal worth £8m in 2019 but will listen to offers for the experienced defender who made 20 appearances last season.

Everton are also among the club’s showing interest in former LYON left back Nicolas Tagliafico, who became a free agent yesterday.

The Argentina World Cup winner has interest from SEVILLA and West Ham also.

Barry deal hits buffers

ASTON VILLA forward Louie Barry’s proposed sale to HULL CITY is off as it stands.

Villa had agreed an outline package of £3.5m with a 50 per cent sell-on for the former Barcelona prospect.

However, after agreeing a new contract with Barry in January and PSR concerns were alleviated by selling their women’s team to holding company V Sports, Villa are considering other options including potential loan deals elsewhere.

Barry, 22, has a number of clubs showing interest after scoring 15 goals for Stockport County in the early part of last season.

Meanwhile, Villa defender Kosta Nedeljkovic remains in talks over a permanent move to RB LEIPZIG while Villa have signed teenage striker Zepiqueno Redmond, 19, on a free after he left Feyenoord.

Ole’s lifeline for Williams 

Former Manchester United full back Brandon Williams is an option for Ole Gunner Solskjaer at BESIKTAS.

Williams has stated his intention to restart his football career after he was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving back in May.

The 24-year-old, who also played for Norwich City and Ipswich Town, earned his big break under Solskjaer at United and initial talks have taken place over a potential move to Turkey.

Besiktas are signing former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham from ROMA.

Ipswich go Stateside for new striker 

IPSWICH TOWN are rivalling DERBY COUNTY for CHARLOTTE FC striker Patrick Agyemang.

The 24-year-old USA international has just been selected to play for MLS All Stars against Liga MX’s All Stars on July 23.

Charlotte want around £7.2m for the 6ft 4in forward and Ipswich and Derby are both close to their valuation but Agyemang also has interest from Anderlecht, Genk, Real Oviedo and Espanyol.

Rangers eye Vardy and Coady

RANGERS are signing BOURNEMOUTH midfielder Joe Rothwell, who spent last season on loan at LEEDS UNITED.

Rangers remain keen on LEICESTER CITY defender Conor Coady and his former team-mate Jamie Vardy, but a deal for HEARTS striker Lawrence Shankland has been ruled out.

Leeds close in on Bornauw as Betis come back for more 

Leeds are close to finalising a £5m deal for defender Sebastiaan Bornauw from WOLFSBURG while former left back Junior Firpo is expected to join REAL BETIS after the expiry of his contract. Betis have also tried for Leeds’ Spain Under 21 international forward Mateo Joseph. 

Fellow Premier League new boys SUNDERLAND have approached NANTES for striker Matthis Abline. Burnley are in for Lens midfielder Andy Diouf.

Wrexham eye Wales star Lawrence 

WREXHAM are continuing to pursue Wales international Tom Lawrence.

The 31-year-old is a free agent after reaching the end of his contract with Rangers and also has interest from the Middle East and Turkey.

However, the prospect of joining his hometown club is understood to be appealing to the former Manchester United trainee.

Wrexham signed goalkeeper Danny Ward on Tuesday and have designs on adding a few more experienced players this window. Nottingham Forest’s Lewis O’Brien is another under consideration.