Newcastle, Tottenham in fight for midfield star with unfinished Premier League business
Premier League rivals Newcastle and Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing former Aston Villa player Jordan Veretout.
The midfielder has seen his first-team opportunities hit under Jose Mourinho at current club Roma this season and has started only one of the last six Serie A games.
A report from Roma Today claims that the Rome-based outfit are willing to listen to offers for the 29-year-old.
The report adds that the two English sides are keen and that a bid of around £21million would do the trick.
Veretout already has experience of Premier League football, having spent two seasons at Villa Park. However, he eventually moved on after the club’s relegation to the Championship.
He made 25 appearances during the 2015/16 season for Villa but was then loaned to Saint-Etienne before heading to Fiorentina on a permanent deal in 2017.
Veretout moved to Italian capital on loan with an obligation to buy for €18m in 2019. He is now in his third season at Roma, but a new (old) adventure could now be on the cards.
Antonio Conte is a known admirer of the player, having watched him at first hand in Italy. And with Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso likely to be sold in the summer, bringing in another midfielder is highly likely.
As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe is in the midst of changing the culture and playing style at St James’ and Veretout would fit the bill there.
The Magpies also have money to burn, which is likely to make them favourites to sign the player.
Newcastle line up bold double raid
Meanwhile, Newcastle are reportedly gearing themselves up for a possible bid for Marcus Rashford, amid claims they will launch a huge approach to sign him should a parting of ways at Manchester United be on the cards.
The United forward has been a shadow of his former self this season and has failed to find his consistent best form. Indeed, the 24-year-old has just five goals and two assists to his name during the 2021/22 campaign. And to highlight his struggles, Rashford has made just 18 appearances in the Premier League this season. Just nine of those have been starts, while just two have come since the turn of the year.
To add to his misery, Rashford was expected to start Sunday’s Manchester derby in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani. However, Ralf Rangnick instead opted to play Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba as false nines – a tactic which evidentally backfired.
Indeed, their lame 4-1 defeat at the Etihad has both Roy Keane and Gary Neville seething.
However, for Rashford, the player is now very much at a crossroads in his career.
As such, reports on Monday suggested he Rashford is seeking talks with United chiefs to determine his future. They indicate he is becoming ‘increasingly frustrated’ under Ralf Rangnick.
Man Utd have key Rashford decision to make
Furthermore, with his contract expiring in summer 2023, United – who do hold a one-year option – may have a decision to make.
As a result, 90min suggest Newcastle, West Ham and Arsenal are keeping tabs on his situation.
There is also interest from Spain in the form of Atletico Madrid. And Tuesday’s Paper Talk also suggests there is interest from PSG.
However, of the quintet, it is Newcastle whose interest could spark the most column inches.
Eddie Howe’s side are preparing for a huge summer of spending. And work on the summer market – including the capture of a marquee signing – will begin once Premier League safety has been assured.
A move to bring Rashford to St James’ Park would certainly capture the imagination.
The England star would very much become the focal point of the new-look Magpies; a current England star and media darling.
And the chance to move to Tyneside and lead Newcastle into their exciting new dawn might appeal to the 24-year-old.
His reported £200,000 a week wages at United could also comfortably be matched on Tyneside.
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Lingard could team up with Marcus Rashford
Rashford isn’t the only Manchester United man that Newcastle are casting admiring glances over either.
Multiple reports are indicating that Howe and Co will also launch a summer bid to snare Jesse Lingard.
The midfielder has not got the minutes he would have expected this season. That is despite impressing while on loan at West Ham.
He becomes a free agent this summer and a parting of ways appears certain.
The Hammers remain among those sides keen to sign him, though the sway of Newcastle could yet win the day.
And should Newcastle manage to land Lingard, it will likely increase their prospects of signing Marcus Rashford too.
The two players are close friends and would likely relish the chance to continue playing alongside one another.
And while there remains some distance to go before any such deal comes off, theirs is a double signing that the Newcastle fans would surely welcome.
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