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Crystal Palace are "in a really good position" to beat Chelsea to the signature of Flamengo's highly rated and highly sought-after youngster Matheus Franca, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Matheus Franca joining Crystal Palace this summer?

It hasn't been a great start to the summer window for Palace so far this year. They have made just one senior signing so far, and it was the rather uninspiring signing of Jefferson Lerma from Premier League rivals Bournemouth.

However, the departure of club legend Wilfried Zaha is the biggest problem for the South Londoners, as his performances over the last few seasons have been instrumental in keeping them in the league, and to see him leave for free is nothing short of a disaster.

That said, the club do appear to be making inroads with some potential transfers, one of those being for the highly-rated Brazilian youngster Franca.

According to Brazilian publication Tocedores, Palace co-owner John Textor has made an offer for the 19-year-old in the region of £26m, putting them in direct competition with cross-city rivals Chelsea for his signature.

The Blues have also made an opening bid for the exciting prospect after meeting with his representatives in London earlier this month, per Globo.

The fact that he has made just 28 senior top-flight appearances since making his debut in 2021 has done little to put people off, with football scout Jacek Kulig waxing lyrical about the youngster, saying:

"Great midfielder, great striker, he can play almost everywhere. One of the most exciting teenagers in Brazil at the moment."

What did Dean Jones say about Crystal Palace and Matheus Franca?

Jones was surprised by Palace's success in reaching this point of the transfer battle but was full of praise for them and didn't rule out the possibility of them securing his signature.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Yeah, it would be massive for them if they could actually win this battle. I mean, it's not easy to even get as far as they've got with it to be honest because he's a player that has been coveted by a lot of clubs.

"Getting to this moment and obviously Chelsea being the biggest of them and Chelsea don't normally miss out on targets like this. It has to be said that Palace have put themselves in a really good position to actually sign him."

Who else have Crystal Palace been linked to this summer?

While Franca would undoubtedly be an excellent signing for the future, it's unlikely that he'd make an immediate impact on the team and so, the South London side are likely to do some more business this summer before the transfer window slams shut on September 1st.

One of the players that the Eagles are interested in is Arsenal's American striker, Folarin Balogun. The 21-year-old is coming off a brilliant season in France, where he scored 21 goals for Ligue 1 side Stade Reims and achieved an average match rating of 6.9.

The club's interest in the young prodigy was revealed last month by Football Insider, an interest that was confirmed by Ryan Taylor earlier this month when he told GIVEMESPORT that Palace were still "looking at him."

The biggest hurdle for this deal is that Arsenal now want close to £50m for their young American, which would eclipse Palace's previous record transfer fee of £27m, which they paid Liverpool for Christian Benteke in 2016.

Perhaps Roy Hodgson's side could get some kind of discount should they include a buyback clause, as they are going to have to find a way to replace the goals lost from Zaha's departure.

Juventus winger Federico Chiesa would prefer to join Liverpool instead of Newcastle United this summer, according to a new transfer update.

How much does Federico Chiesa earn?

The 25-year-old, who currently earns £149,000 per week, has already enjoyed a successful career, most famously winning Euro 2020 with Italy and proving to be an influential performer for them at the tournament.

At club level, Chiesa has also impressed, initially coming to mainstream attention with some impressive performances for Fiorentina, which earned him a move to Juventus. He has registered 42 goal contributions (22 goals and 20 assists) in 94 appearances for the Turin giants, proving to be a potent threat in attack.

That being said, the Italian hasn't always managed to nail down a regular starting berth for his current club, with injuries and form sometimes getting in the way. His current deal expires in the summer of 2025, but it could be that he is allowed to join a new team in the current transfer window.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Chiesa in the recent past and it is a rumour that is refusing to go away.

Could Liverpool sign Federico Chiesa?

According to journalist Marco Guidi, who was speaking to TV Play [via Sport Witness], the Italy international could be a potential target for both the Reds and Newcastle. Bayern Munich are also in the conversation, with his preference being to seal a move to a 'top club':

“The player would be more inclined to sign for a classic top club, such as Liverpool or Bayern Munich. If Newcastle have the economic strength they will try to take Chiesa. The Newcastle option could only be taken into consideration at the end of the transfer market, in the case of few offers on the plate."

There is no doubting Chiesa's pedigree as a footballer, with the Juve man a hugely dangerous attacking player on his day – Cristiano Ronaldo even reportedly wanted him to join him at Manchester United when he returned to Old Trafford for a second stint at the club.

Former Italy defender Alessandro Pierini has described his compatriot as "world-class" in the past, adding that he "has all the ability and desire of a great player", and there is no doubt he could be a new attacking hero at Liverpool.

The Reds are already extremely well-stocked in that area, however, with Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo all representing strong options, so it would be a surprise to see the club fork out big money on Chiesa, especially when midfield and defence are more important areas to strengthen.

In the future, Chiesa could potentially be a great signing, especially with Salah's contract slowly running down, but it is hard to see how he would start matches on a regular basis and remain happy with so much competition for places already.

It would, therefore, be a big surprise to see him in a Liverpool shirt ahead of the new Premier League season, unless one of the attackers suddenly leaves, which isn't expected to happen.

Manchester United are believed to be keeping tabs on Bayern Munich midfielder, Leon Goretzka ahead of a potential summer swoop, albeit with it currently unclear as to whether the German is open to leaving the Allianz Arena.

What's the latest on Goretzka to Man United?

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils – as well as fellow Premier League side, West Ham United – are showing an interest in the 28-year-old, even though the 6 foot 2 ace is currently not seeking to leave the Bavarian giants.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Leon #Goretzka, internally he has made clear that he doesn’t want to leave FC Bayern this summer! His agents are not open for negotiations with other clubs at this stage. His agents are not open for negotiations with other clubs at this stage. Goretzka, dream target for West Ham.

"Tuchel is planning with Kimmich & Laimer at this stage. Instead, Goretzka will face the challenge."

This follows a recent report that suggested the 53-cap maestro has been deemed 'expendable' by manager, Thomas Tuchel, with the Bundesliga outfit potentially willing to cash in for a fee of roughly €50m (£43m).

Who is Goretzka similar to in Europe's top five leagues?

The former Schalke ace has enjoyed a stunning stint at Bayern since his arrival back in 2018, having won five successive league titles as well as claiming Champions League glory in that time, among other honours, while chipping in with 69 goals and assists in 179 appearances in all competitions.

Arguably "one of the best box-to-box players in Europe" – according to former boss Julian Nagelsmann – the towering, £298k-per-week titan has an "incredible goal threat" from his central midfield berth, ensuring he could offer a real attacking threat to Erik ten Hag's side.

While it may take some persuading in order to tempt the Bochum native to Old Trafford, if the former Ajax boss is able to strike a deal it could allow him to find a dream alternative to Adrien Rabiot, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

United were notably close to signing the Juventus asset last summer only for talks to collapse over the Frenchman's excessive wage demands, while a renewed approach was again mooted this time around, only for the 28-year-old to opt to sign a new one-year extension with the Serie A giants.

To then find a potential carbon copy of the one-time Paris Saint-Germain ace – who is also an imposing figure at 6 foot 2 – in the form of Goreztka could represent an ideal scenario for Ten Hag, with that type of all-action midfielder seemingly the profile of player that the Dutchman is craving.

The comparison between the pair can be seen by their ability to provide a cutting edge in the final third, with Rabiot having chipped in with 17 goal involvements in all competitions last term, while Goretzka recorded 12 goals and assists across all fronts.

That desire to bomb forward is showcased by the fact that while the latter man ranks in the top 18% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area, his Juve counterpart is only just ahead as he ranks in the top 11% in that regard.

Not just intent on impacting proceedings at the top of the pitch, the duo's defensive prowess can be shown by the fact that they rank in the top 9% and the top 17%, respectively for aerial duels won, providing a real physical presence in the centre of the park.

With Ten Hag having twice been unable to snap up Rabiot during his United tenure to date, the 53-year-old could forget about frustration by turning to Goretzka instead.

Liverpool could be set for a busy few weeks in the summer transfer window as they shape their squad ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.

The club are reportedly in talks with Al Ettifaq over a deal for captain Jordan Henderson, who has already agreed personal terms with Steven Gerrard's side.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad are said to be pursuing defensive midfielder Fabinho. They have approached the Brazil international to discuss terms but are yet to make an official offer to Jurgen Klopp's team as it stands.

Their exits would leave two significant holes within the roster and that could force the Merseyside giants back into the market to make further additions in that area of the pitch.

This comes after Liverpool secured the signings of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister from RB Leipzig and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, earlier this summer to bolster their options in midfield.

However, changes may occur elsewhere in the squad as the Reds were recently linked with a swoop to sign Zenit winger Malcom, which could mean that Klopp has attacking reinforcements on his agenda.

How good is Malcom?

It is hard to say exactly how good the Brazilian forward is as he is yet to experience Premier League football in his career to date. However, his form in Russia last season suggests that the potential is there for him to be a big upgrade on Diogo Jota for Liverpool.

The 26-year-old hotshot is a versatile player who is capable of being deployed across the frontline, which is also the case for the Portugal international. This means that Malcom could replace the ex-Wolves man's impact as a rotation option out wide or through the middle.

Last term, Jota scored seven goals in 22 Premier League appearances – the joint-fourth most in the team, only behind Darwin Nunez (nine), Roberto Firmino (11), and Mohamed Salah (19).

The right-footed ace struggled to offer much outside of goalscoring as he created 0.8 chances per match for his teammates. 12 other players within the squad produced more creativity, which suggests that the Portuguese forward was not one of the club's standout playmakers.

Malcom, on the other hand, plundered 23 goals in 27 Premier Liga clashes – four more than any of the aforementioned Liverpool attackers managed. Whilst there is no guarantee that it would directly translate to the English top-flight, his record in front of goal indicates that the potential is there for him to be a prolific scorer for Klopp.

The former Barcelona wizard showcased his creativity with 2.3 key passes per outing. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold led the way for the Reds with 1.9 per match, which means that the Brazilian talent could come in to split open opposition defences more frequently than the manager's current options.

Malcom, who was once described as "hugely talented" by journalist Ryan Baldi, also averaged a phenomenal Sofascore rating of 7.95 – 0.63 higher than Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool-leading score of 7.32.

Therefore, the £108k-per-week sensation could be a superb signing for Liverpool and a big upgrade on Jota, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, if he can reproduce his form in Russia in the Premier League next term.

Emmanuel Petit has raved over the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United, calling him a "bargain" Arsenal addition this summer.

Who are Arsenal signing?

The north Londoners, after reaching an agreement to sign Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65 million, have now also put pen to paper on the signing of Rice after weeks of talks.

Arsenal and West Ham agreed a total £105 million fee for 24-year-old some time ago, according to reports, but negotiations over payment structure were ongoing for a while after that.

Agreeing to pay an initial £100 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, Mikel Arteta's side eventually compromised on terms of the deal and will give West Ham the £100m over a 24-month period.

Reported to be Arteta's top summer target, Rice's arrival at Arsenal marks a very significant coup, with the player having his medical yesterday.

Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, who also underwent his medical tests on Friday, will follow Rice through the door in what has been a very busy last few days for the club.

Speaking to SportsJoe, Petit has praised Arsenal for the signing of Rice, calling the move a "bargain" despite it being a record for any British player.

The £105 million paid for Rice means he will eclipse both Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham as the most expensive English player in history, yet according to Petit, he's worth every penny.

"A bargain," said the France legend on Rice.

"The way Declan wants to play, and the way Arteta wants his team to play, I think they will fit perfectly together".

The England international performed incredibly for West Ham under David Moyes last season, making more interceptions per 90 than any player in their squad whilst standing out as their best-perfomer per 90 (WhoScored).

What's been said about Declan Rice?

Due to his imperious form at the London Stadium, former Irons and England defender Matthew Upson is a huge fan, calling Rice a "quality" midfielder.

Upson also suggests that he is playing beyond his years, and having worked with Rice personally, believes the sky is the limit for Arsenal's new midfielder.

"I really enjoyed working with him," Upson told BBC Sport.

"He was so receptive. He had the ability to take criticism or feedback. It didn't deter him. He took it all in such a positive way and had the intelligence to absorb the information and add it to his game, which is a real skill.

"Declan was already at a super high level when I worked with him in terms of what he was capable of. You could see the ability he had in his character to be at the top of the game. That is him. Nobody has added that or given it to him. That is just Declan. That is his star quality."

Manchester United are preparing an offer in the hope of enticing Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos to the Premier League, according to reports.

How good is Goncalo Ramos?

Ramos is a centre-forward who plies his trade at the Estadio da Luz having graduated from his club’s academy to get promoted to the first-team in 2020, where he’s since gone on to become a regular feature of the senior fold, starting 30 out of 34 Primeira Liga games last season.

The Portugal international’s contract isn’t set to expire for another three years, but having emerged as Roger Schmidt’s best-performing offensive player last season, he’s been identified as an exciting final third target by Erik Ten Hag in M16.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Red Devils are internally discussing the possibility of a swoop for the 22-year-old as an alternative to Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, and the conversations must have been positive for them to be considering a bid.

Are Man United signing Ramos?

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Man United are thinking about "advancing with a concrete offer" for Ramos which has put his club on "red alert".

Ten Hag "admires the striker's qualities" and is believed to have scouted him throughout the whole of last season. Benfica are set to "demand" €80m (£68m) in order to sanction his sale, so this could be one to watch closely in the weeks and months ahead at Old Trafford.

Where would Ramos fit at Old Trafford?

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Ramos for his “outrageous” numbers in the final third so he could bring a prolific threat to the centre-forward role – something Ten Hag was missing for the majority of last season following the disappointing loan spell of Wout Weghorst.

The World Cup star, who’s sponsored by Nike, posted 26 goal contributions (19 goals and seven assists) in 30 Liga Portugal appearances last term, not to mention that he recorded 98 shots over the course of the campaign which was higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef.

As a reward for his high standard of his performances, Ramos not only received five man-of-the-match trophies but he was also named his division’s Striker of the Year for 2022/23, so should he put pen to paper this summer, it would be a massive coup for the boss to acquire his services ahead of any other fellow competitors.

Tottenham Hotspur have put together an interesting proposal in an effort to tempt a key new addition into their fold…

What's the latest on Roger Ibanez to Tottenham?

That's according to Corriere Roma (via Sport Witness), who outline the various meetings in London that Roma director Tiago Pinto undertook on Monday.

It was noted that one such proposal came from Spurs, who sought to discuss the availability of centre-back Roger Ibanez.

Whilst Ben Davies had been reportedly offered as a makeweight in a potential deal for the defender earlier in the week, seeking to play on how Jose Mourinho took to him during his time in north London, it seems the Lilywhites remain reluctant to meet the asking price of the Italian side and are instead exploring alternative avenues.

Ange Postecoglou is likely willing to play the long game though, knowing that the Rome outfit will have to sell some of their assets eventually. His price tag currently stands at €40m (£34m).

Would Roger Ibanez make Tottenham Hotspur stronger?

Given how Spurs have started the transfer window, it seems their new manager is not here to play around. He is already showcasing the grand vision he has for his club, unafraid to spend big to bolster key areas.

This was showcased through their straightforward acquisition of Guglielmo Vicario for £17.2m, and the recent news that they seem set to secure the signing of James Maddison too.

It is the former signing that would likely benefit most from the arrival of this Brazilian central defender though, as the two could form a fine partnership to shore up a fragile back-line, forged in the Serie A.

Last term the north London outfit shipped 63 goals, giving them the sixth-worst defence in the division despite finishing eighth. For a team largely overseen by the great defensive coach Antonio Conte, this was a damning indication of the lack of steel and quality within the team.

Ibanez would instantly mark an upturn, given he is a strictly defence-first centre-back. When compared to others in his position across Europe, he sits in the top 3% for interceptions and the top 18% for tackles per 90, via FBref.

This fed into his stellar Serie A campaign, in which the 24-year-old maintained a 7.00 average rating, upheld through 2.8 clearances per game too, via Sofascore.

For comparison, this figure would see him as the highest-rated centre-back at Spurs from last term, with the third-most clearances too.

Such imperious form unsurprisingly has led to praise from his boss, with Mourinho branding the defender "untouchable" in late 2022.

To add this alongside the shot-stopping capabilities of Vicario, who last campaign was the second-highest rated goalkeeper in the whole Serie A, immediately one of the club's biggest issues would be plugged. Not to mention he maintained such a rating whilst making 3.1 saves per game, keeping seven clean sheets, via Sofascore.

This potential partnership, which would largely have been made in Italy, could be the answer to Postecoglou's prayers. In one fell swoop he could have added the key goals from midfield that his side craved, and toughened up their defensive frailties.

Arsenal are currently leading the chase to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer as Mikel Arteta looks set to strengthen his midfield.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Arsenal?

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are in pole position to sign Lavia during the transfer window after the youngster verbally agreed to join the Gunners.

He will cost around £50m and the north Londoners have jumped ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United with regard to the move, although Manchester City do have a buy-back clause which is active next summer, but the report claims they are undecided on acting sooner.

Will Romeo Lavia join Arsenal?

It is looking increasingly likely that he will arrive at the Emirates ahead of next season and Arteta will be hoping to put Arsenal’s failed Premier League title challenge from last season behind him as the 2023/24 campaign looms on the horizon.

Indeed, the Spaniard is close to signing Chelsea star Kai Havertz for a fee of £65m, as with the added rigours of the Champions League next term, bolstering his options is a shrewd move and could certainly pay dividends.

It is unclear to what position the German will play upon joining Arsenal, as he was mainly deployed as a centre-forward during Chelsea’s underwhelming season, yet with Gabriel Jesus likely to be leading the line for Arsenal next term, he could drop back slightly deeper, perhaps into an attacking-midfield role.

With Lavia coming in and solidifying the midfield, there is potential for a key partnership to be formed which may spur the club onto success next term, with the Belgian’s defensive acumen allowing Havertz the freedom to express his creative talents.

He ranked second in the Southampton squad for tackles made per game (2.1) while also having the second-highest pass success rate (86%) across the whole squad, being able to dictate the play well. The midfielder also ranks in the top 17% across Europe’s big five leagues for ball recoveries per 90 (7.58), suggesting he is effective at sweeping up loose balls in order to move the ball onto more creative talents.

The German could benefit from having someone like Lavia playing behind him. Havertz, across Europe’s top five leagues, ranks in the top 9% for passes received per 90 (34.24) and the top 18% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 (5.98), indicating that he is keen to receive the ball as often as possible deep into the opposition half.

Lavia’s passing ability could find Havertz in these ideal positions and they could form a dream duo for Arteta. Reporter Benjy Nurick hailed the teen gem as a “monster” earlier this year and Arsenal must get this move over the line as soon as possible.

Newcastle United enjoyed an incredible season under Eddie Howe's tutelage and returned to Champions League qualification with a top-four finish, and have now identified Chelsea's Marc Cucurella for transfer.

What's the latest on Marc Cucurella to Newcastle?

According to the Mirror, Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth has added the Spanish full-back to the club's list of transfer targets after signing Cucurella while the pair for €18m (£15m) were both at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Having completed a stunning season with the Seagulls, the 24-year-old was signed by Chelsea for a mouth-watering £63m last summer, but after an uninspiring year Newcastle could look to provide him with a fresh start on English soil.

The Magpies have been in fine fettle indeed, but with the introduction of European football, the depth of the club will need to expand, and Cucurella could be the perfect choice to enrich the left flank, especially given that the Blues are considering a cut-price sale of just £30m.

How would Marc Cucurella perform at Newcastle?

Despite failing to produce the desired results at Chelsea, Newcastle could reignite a player who demonstrated he is Premier League quality and then some on the south coast.

Recording an average rating of 7.11 (Sofascore) with Albion over the 21/22 campaign, Cucurella completed 82% of his passes, averaging 1.2 key passes, 2.7 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game, also winning 61% of his ground duels, hailed for his "brilliant" performances by former teammate Leandro Trossard.

The disparity to his time at Stamford Bridge could not be greater, branded a "defensive liability" by journalist Okon Nya and at the core of the west London outfit's woes as they finished 12th.

However, provided a license to flourish at St. James' Park, Cucurella could return to the top of his game and leave observers waxing lyrical in their throngs once again.

Linking back up with his former teammate Dan Burn, who completed a £13m move from Brighton to Tyneside in January 2022, the £175k-per-week Chelsea ace could snatch the defensive left flank from the 31-year-old, cementing a starting berth for the most pivotal of encounters next season.

A centre-half by trade, Burn played 39 times at left-back this year after impressing in the makeshift role, with the 6 foot 5 colossus being heralded as "solid as a rock and immense" by journalist Aaron Stokes, but his stagnancy in transition is undoubtedly a weakness and the variation that Cucurella would bring is an enticing thought, with Burn having been 'dragged all over the place' on occasion, according to journalist Jude Summerfield.

As Newcastle progress and creep closer toward the forefront of European football, Cucurella's progressive presence could lead to him taking the baton and transcending Burn's performances in the team, proving to be the ultimate attacking heir down the left-hand side.

And given that the former Barcelona youngster can also play as a central defender, he could offer the dynamic assurance to win Howe over and play a pivotal role in a thriving Premier League outfit once again.

Newcastle United are about to enter their fourth transfer window since the new ownership took control, and it promises to be a big one. After all, they now boast a place in the Champions League after finishing 4th in the Premier League.

Their rise has been rapid, with some massive signings that transformed the team under Eddie Howe. They haven't signed every player they hoped for, however, and Football FanCast has taken a look back on some of their near-misses over the last 18 months.

Here's what could have been…

8 Cody Gakpo

Chronicle Live claims Newcastle were big, big fans of Gakpo before his move to Liverpool. They'd actually been watching him pre-takeover and continued right the way through the World Cup.

It always looked likely that Gakpo would move on from PSV Eindhoven in January, and Newcastle were a common name linked. Anfield would be his ultimate destination, however.

7 Mykhailo Mudryk

Just about every Premier League club wanted Mudryk – or at least, it felt that way to start the year. Newcastle were among those, says The Athletic, but they couldn't justify his ultimate fee as Chelsea swooped in.

6 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Kvaratskhelia arrived at Napoli a year ago and absolutely stormed it in Serie A, leading his side to their first title in decades. Naturally, Newcastle were amongst the clubs hoping to sign the now-superstar – according to The Times. All reports suggest he's staying put after signing an extended deal, though.

5 Enzo Fernández

Enzo was one of the biggest stories coming out of the World Cup, with Benfica under pressure to sell the player they'd signed just a few months prior. A Bola in Portugal believed Newcastle wanted him, too, and that they could trigger his release clause. As it turned out, Chelsea would be the ones to do that.

4 Jude Bellingham

Bellingham was quite possibly the most in-demand player on the planet ahead of this summer. Sport Bild claimed that the Magpies were hoping to get involved and make the midfielder a marquee signing. He does feel like the perfect player to build around given his age and quality.

Instead, he has now signed for Real Madrid, but perhaps a Premier League move beckons in the future.

3 Neymar

Okay, so maybe it's time to take these ones with a pinch of salt. Still, rumours swirled this season that Paris Saint-Germain wanted to sell Neymar. Few clubs could actually afford the Brazilian – but Newcastle are one of them.

90min made the link, and while Neymar is ultimately still with PSG, you can expect to hear this one again. Speculation is louder than ever that the playmaker will depart this summer. Maybe Champions League football in the north-east appeals?

2 Kylian Mbappé

There was a lot of drama around Mbappé ahead of the World Cup, with suggestions in France that he wanted out of PSG. Much like Neymar, the number of clubs that could afford the superstar is very small. Newcastle would again be up there, though.

And journalist Ben Jacobs claimed they were a potential destination at the time. Now, again as with Neymar, nothing ultimately happened. But the striker doesn't seem too happy and Newcastle may just have a chance to try again someday soon.

1 Lionel Messi

One PSG star who was on the move was Lionel Messi – he's joined Inter Miami. But there was talk in Spain this year that Newcastle were planning to make a monster offer to arguably the greatest player of all time.

That's what Sport claimed. Barcelona also wanted Messi back but Newcastle were seen as a genuine threat. As it is, Messi will leave elite European football behind and take his talents to South Beach.