Man Utd on verge of full agreement to sign star on £250,000-a-week contract

Manchester United are thought to be close to signing a second major transfer target of the summer after Matheus Cunha.

Man Utd targeting more attacking signings after Cunha

The Red Devils and INEOS made an early start on their summer transfer business by securing the services of Matheus Cunha.

Those at Old Trafford triggered the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause to sign him from Wolves, and after signing for Man Utd, Cunha said:

Cunha may well be used by Ruben Amorim in one of two attacking number 10 positions behind a striker in a 3-4-2-1 system, so more firepower in the final third is on the agenda at Old Trafford.

Amorim's own Haaland: Wilcox in talks to sign "world-class" CF for Man Utd

Manchester United appear to be making moves towards a new centre-forward this summer.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 17, 2025

On the search for a centre-forward, Man Utd have been linked with Hugo Ekitike of Eintracht Frankfurt and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Meanwhile, another versatile attacker that has been wanted for weeks is Brentford star Bryan Mbuemo. Despite interest from Spurs and new manager Thomas Frank, Man Utd are the ones who have had a verbal agreement in place to sign the Cameroon international.

Indeed, INEOS have been preparing a huge salary offer worth £13m per season to lure the forward to Manchester, a wage that works out at £250,000-a-week. Now, a new development has emerged, and one that will be music to the ears of many Man Utd supporters.

Man Utd now “very close” to signing Mbuemo after talks intensify

According to reports from Spain, Man Utd are now “very close” to signing Mbuemo from Brentford.

It is claimed that ‘contacts with the player’s entourage and with Brentford itself have intensified from Manchester’ and that ‘negotiations, which have been ongoing for weeks, have progressed significantly’.

Amorim has also given the green light to a deal, but no fee is mentioned in the new update. As many will know, Man Utd had an initial offer rejected for Mbuemo worth up to £55m as the Bees value their star at more than £60m.

Games

38

33

Goals

20

15

Assists

8

6

Presumably, a deal, should it go through, will be around that figure, and it looks like a transfer is on course to be completed imminently following this latest update.

Tottenham to open talks for "role model" forward signing after Frank request

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly identifying targets for incoming new manager Thomas Frank already, with the Dane also having his own input on their summer recruitment plans as he prepares for his debut season in the Lilywhites dugout.

Thomas Frank already identifying transfer targets at Spurs

According to Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources, Frank is closing in on the Spurs job and an agreement has been reached for him to replace Ange Postecoglou – just days after the Australian was given his marching orders.

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The former Spurs boss FaceTimed him constantly.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 11, 2025

Romano has given his renowned ‘here we go’ to the appointment and there is an expectation that Frank could even be confirmed as Tottenham’s new manager in the next few days (BBC), with the 51-year-old poised to swap Brentford for north London.

The move is so advanced, in fact, that reports are already flooding in regard to Frank identifying his preferred summer transfer targets for Spurs.

GiveMeSport reported earlier this week that Frank has recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy as a possible signing, in the event they cannot beat Man United in the race for Bryan Mbeumo.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

This comes amid reports that they’re after a new left-winger after the departure of Timo Werner, with Spurs said to be eyeing Man City star Jack Grealish, who is almost certain to depart Eastlands this summer (talkSPORT).

The arrival of a new forward in that area would also raise questions about the future of Mathys Tel.

The Frenchman arrived at N17 on loan in January, and the deal includes an option to buy for around £45 million. However, it is believed that Spurs would want to whittle down that fee if they do opt to keep Tel, following a mixed first six months at the club.

Tottenham to open talks over cut-price Mathys Tel deal

According to TEAMtalk this week, that is most certainly the plan, and Tottenham are set to open talks over a reduced-price move for Tel in the coming weeks.

They also state Frank has personally told Spurs chiefs that the 20-year-old’s permanent arrival would sufficiently reinforce his attacking options ahead of a 2025/2026 campaign where they’ll be competing in the Champions League.

Frank apparently believes Tel is a perfect fit for his high-pressing system, and is a major fan of the winger’s work rate among other desirable traits, like his versatility.

Taking this into account, Frank has requested that the club keep Tel right where he is, which could end up being the right call considering his glowing reputation among Bayern Munich circles.

Ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann once tipped Tel to bag ’40 goals a season’ at some point in his career, while Bayern back-up keeper, Sven Ulreich, called him a ‘role model’ for younger players.

“Mathys is a fine guy, is inquisitive, willing to learn, down-to-earth and works a lot on himself,” Ulreich said.

“He is a role model for all the young players who come here. He comes up and does his job. We’ve had other examples that didn’t handle it that way.”

Huijsen 2.0: Liverpool holding final talks to sign "revelation" after Wirtz

There has been a post doing the rounds on social media, appearing to take aim at Liverpool’s spending in recent times, namely their ability to fork out what were then record fees for Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

That has been brought into the limelight amid the impending arrival of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz for a reported total price tag of around £126m, with that significant outlay potentially set to eclipse Chelsea’s £115m capture of Moises Caicedo – the current British record.

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2 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 5, 2025

Rival supporters should know better, however, with this a club who have certainly received bang for their buck in the FSG era, with Van Dijk and Alisson, in particular, having been central figures in securing a plethora of major honours since their arrival.

As those £75m and £67m deals showcased, respectively, the Anfield side are willing to splash out only at the right time – and for the right player – with the decision to plump for Wirtz no doubt a calculated one, rather than merely a desperate show of strength.

The Merseysiders – who have already snapped up Jeremie Frimpong to boot – appear to have sprung into action after a quiet 24 months in the transfer market, with the imminent addition of Wirtz seemingly not the last of the summer for Arne Slot’s side.

Latest on Liverpool's business after Wirtz

The signing of the German sensation appears to be a matter of when and not if, with the Premier League champions having fended off rival interest from the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich to get their man.

At a time when the Bundesliga’s best talents typically ended up in Bavaria, there has been an element of surprise at Wirtz’s decision to leave his homeland behind, albeit with that perhaps showcasing the strength of the project on offer at Anfield.

Indeed, a third exciting signing of the summer could also be on the way in the form of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, with the Hungarian full-back seemingly edging ever closer to making the switch.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As revealed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano – writing in his GIVEMESPORT newsletter – there is set to be a final round of talks amid the hope of striking a deal with the Cherries, with the player himself having already agreed to the move.

It is said that the 21-year-old will be ‘next’ after Wirtz’s acquisition, with previous reports outlining that the rampaging left-back will command a fee of around £45m, should a deal be agreed.

AFC Bournemouth's MilosKerkez

Part of an exciting Bournemouth side last term, Kerkez could be a dream ‘consolation’ after the Reds missed out on his in-demand teammate, Dean Huijsen.

Why Kerkez could be as exciting as Huijsen

It may appear strange to say for a team that only just stormed to Premier League title glory, although there does appear to be surgery needed at Anfield, particularly with regard to the backline.

Indeed, the controversial exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold has sparked Frimpong’s acquisition, while Kerkez could be a ready-made replacement for Andy Robertson, with just a year remaining on the 31-year-old’s contract.

There has also been talk regarding the signing of a new centre-back, not least with uncertainty surrounding Ibrahima Konate’s own contract extension, with recent months seeing Liverpool emerge as a leading suitor for the aforementioned Huijsen.

AFC Bournemouth's DeanHuijsen

Available for £50m due to a release clause in his Bournemouth contract, the 20-year-old Spaniard caught the eye following what has proved to be a solitary season on the south coast, with Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid ultimately winning the race for his signature.

Huijsen – who Jamie Redknapp described as looking “effortless” on the pitch – was the star attraction of Andoni Iraola’s high-flying side, but Kerkez is a standout talent in his own right, having been hailed as a “revelation” by Jamie Carragher.

Federico Dimarco

13

Rayan Ait-Nouri

11

Robin Gosens

10

Nathaniel Brown

10

Alejandro Grimaldo

10

Antonee Robinson

10

Maximilian Mittlestadt

9

Milos Kerkez

8

Emanuel Valeri

8

Sergi Cardona

8

A young and high-potential defender, much like Huijsen, the £45m man started all 38 league games in 2024/25, having chipped in with two goals and five assists in that time from his left-sided berth.

It is that attacking quality that stands out regarding the Hungary international, as he also created eight ‘big chances’ and averaged one key pass per game in the top-flight. Huijsen too is also a real threat in the opposition box, having registered five goals and assists of his own from centre-back.

What is most impressive about their pair, however, is that such forward-thinking quality is backed up by their defensive strength, with Huijsen averaging 2.7 tackles and interceptions per game while being dribbled past just 0.3 times. Kerkez, meanwhile, averaged 2.6 tackles and interceptions, while having been dribbled past on just 0.4 occasions.

For context, the long-serving Robertson averaged just 1.8 and 0.6 for those same two metrics, respectively, having also only registered one assist, showcasing the potential upgrade that could be acquired.

Yes, Huijsen may have been the name on everybody’s lips at the Vitality Stadium of late, although Kerkez – who Opta’s Matt Furniss claimed is ‘on his way to being one of Europe’s best full-backs’ – is equally as exciting.

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With a deal for Florian Wirtz all but signed, Liverpool are considering a swoop for a centre-back.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 11, 2025

Newcastle braced for significant offer for "incredible" £150k-p/w stalwart

Newcastle United are probing on the market this summer, but could also be prompted to consider whether to sell one of their key stars, according to a report.

Newcastle United look for quality over quantity in the market

PIF are expected to spend this summer as long as they don’t put themselves at risk of interference from FFP, and it appears that Eddie Howe will go down the route of streamlining his squad to ensure there is an element of quality control in the North East.

Beginning in earnest, Newcastle are pursuing a deal for Liverpool striker Jota in an effort to strengthen their forward line. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford could also be an appealing name for the club to consider.

Newcastle United manager EddieHoweand assistant manager Jason Tindall celebrate

Talks are set to take place over a move for Brighton & Hove Albion star Joao Pedro. He has become a central target for the Magpies this window, and could cost in the region of £60 million.

Despite relative silence from his camp, Pedro has recently sent a cryptic message on Instagram to friend Reinier Jesus, which read ‘just say the time and where’ on his official account, potentially offering an insight into his movement over the next few weeks.

Callum Wilson is set to leave the club after failing to come to an agreement on terms, which has made finding a replacement an important priority for Howe.

Newcastle and PIF in contact to sign "superb" £34m+ star likened to Konate

An approach has been made by the Magpies.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 18, 2025

Pedro appears to be the most likely solution at this point. Nevertheless, nothing is signed and sealed yet, meaning others could come to the forefront over the next few weeks and months.

The excitement of acquiring new talent is one thing, but Newcastle could now be met with a significant proposal involving one of their star men.

Newcastle set to receive Joelinton proposal

According to TBR, Newcastle midfielder Joelinton is wanted by several Saudi Pro League clubs, including Al-Hilal, who are now plotting submitting a ‘significant’ proposal to try and sign the Brazil international.

Of course, clubs in the Gulf region are controlled by the Magpies’ owners PIF, which could make for an intriguing set of circumstances when it comes to the future of the £150,000 per week earner.

Joelinton’s record at Newcastle – why has he been such a successful signing?

Appearances

221

Goals

29

Assists

21

Trophies

EFL Cup x1

Transitioning from a forward into a box-to-box midfielder under Howe, Joelinton has previously been dubbed “incredible” by the former Bournemouth boss and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet due to his combative nature.

Making his presence known, the former Hoffenheim man won 166 duels in the Premier League last term alongside making 149 recoveries.

Newcastle seem keen to avoid a sale at all costs, though they are under the same strain as everyone else when it comes to satisfying FFP regulations, offering some leeway in their mission to come out of the transfer window with a stronger squad than they entered with.

India to host Bangladesh, New Zealand and England during 2024-25 home season

India will host Bangladesh, New Zealand and England during their 2024-25 home season, in which they will play five Tests, three ODIs and eight T20Is.The season will kick off on September 19 with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Chennai will host the first Test and Kanpur will host the second Test from September 27. This will be Bangladesh’s third Test tour to India. They played a one-off Test in 2017 and a two-match series in 2019.After the Test series, Bangladesh will play three T20Is as well, in Dharamsala, Delhi and Hyderabad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

New Zealand will be the next to visit, for a three-match Test series starting on October 16 in Bengaluru. Pune and Mumbai will host the second and third Tests, respectively.Just before Champions Trophy 2025, England will tour for five T20Is and three ODIs. They had visited India earlier this year for a five-match Test series, which the hosts won 4-1.The Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand will count towards India’s push to qualify for their third successive World Test Championship final. They currently lead the WTC 2023-25 standings with six wins in nine Tests and a points total of 74, or 68.51% of their points contested. Other than these two home series, India’s remaining WTC assignment in this cycle is a five-Test tour of second-placed Australia in 2024-25.

Deal close: Rangers also set to sign £350k "huge talent" with Max Aarons

Rangers are closing in on another signing alongside a deal for right-back Max Aarons, according to a report.

Rangers agree Max Aarons loan deal

The Gers already reached an agreement with midfielder Lyall Cameron earlier this year, with his transfer officially unveiled in the week. However, the first target identified by the 49ers Enterprises and Russell Martin who is set to be signed is Aarons.

The Bournemouth right-back spent the second half of the 2024/25 season out on loan at Valencia and looks set for another temporary move away from the Cherries in 25/26.

Rangers have agreed a straight loan deal for Aarons, who looks set to rival James Tavernier for a starting spot under Martin, providing the club captain remains at Ibrox.

Martin previously tried to sign Aarons at Southampton and knows the full-back from his time at Norwich City. Aarons has also praised the Rangers manager in the past.

“When he came and trained with us he had an aura. I always knew he would go on to be a manager. “I think players who played with him always knew that as well. I knew we had to be on it when he was training with us and giving 110 per cent because if not Russ would tell you and I loved that.

“He pushed every single training session. When he was training with us it almost gave me a feel that I was ready to go and make the jump with the senior players.”

Rangers target once worth £38m is now open to Ibrox transfer after contact

This comes as a boost to Russell Martin.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 20, 2025

Attention will be on further signings alongside Aarons, and another heavily linked target also looks to be close to a Rangers move following an update.

Rangers closing in on £350,000 Kwame Poku transfer

Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku is the man who could be next through the door in Glasgow, with The Scottish Sun providing specific financial details over a permanent transfer to Ibrox.

Out of contract at the end of the month, it is claimed Rangers are “homing in” on the signing of Poku and that he “will cost a cross-border fee in the region of £350,000”.

Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry admitted last month he didn’t think Poku would move to Scotland, but it appears as if a transfer is close. Talking last month, Fry said: “Celtic and Rangers have been at most of our games this season, but I don’t believe Kwame will go to Scotland. He will more likely sign for a top end Championship club.”

Games

31

Goals

12

Assists

11

Minuted played

2,364

Turning 24 in August, Poku, dubbed a “huge talent”, had a career best season in 24/25 in regards to goals and assists, so it is no surprise that up to 30 clubs were keen on his services.

Therefore, Rangers winning the race for the Ghana international could be a shrewd piece of business, and by the looks of things, a £350,000 transfer is on the cards.

Arsenal ready to make "bold" bid to sign £86m Serie A star who Berta wants

Arsenal’s transfer plans continue to evolve as we approach the first mini-window deadline on June 10, and while it remains to be seen if the Gunners officially confirm any new signings before that cut-off date, Andrea Berta is conducting plenty of work behind-the-scenes.

Mikel Arteta has admitted that the club are set for a “busy” summer window, after they missed out on this year’s Premier League title to Liverpool by 10 points, and they appear set to add to their £487 million net-spend on transfers since the Spaniard first took charge.

Arsenal talks could advance in "next few days" as Berta eyes £59m signing

The Gunners have been in contact this week.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 5, 2025

A lot has been made of their need for a new striker in recent weeks, with Arsenal currently working on deals for both Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres, before they decide which centre-forward is their most viable option (BBC).

Arsenal scored just 69 Premier League goals in 2024/2025, which is far a lesser number than the previous two seasons where they fiercely challenged Man City for the title, so supporters are understandably keen for Berta to solve their striker problem soon.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Bukayo Saka’s three-month injury layoff midway through the campaign also hamstrung Arteta’s options out wide, so Berta is believed to be actively working on signing a new winger as well.

Arsenal were in talks over a deal for Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, but that has since stalled due to wage demands. Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma is believed to be among the alternatives on Berta’s shortlist, but they face stiff competition from Bayern Munich.

Interestingly, reports from Turkey in the last seven days have revealed that Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz is another target for the wide area.

Arsenal prepared to make "bold" bid for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz

Turkish football.com reported late last week that Yildiz was emerging as a “prime target” for Arsenal, and that same outlet has provided a further update.

The 20-year-old can play on both flanks and as a second striker, with that versatility appealing to Arteta.

Juventus' KenanYildizcelebrates

According to their information, Yildiz is a top contender to reinforce Arsenal’s attack in the eyes of Berta and his recruitment team. What’s more, Arsenal are ready to make a “bold” bid for Yildiz this summer, with Juve setting an asking price of around £86 million.

It is unclear whether Arsenal are willing to get anywhere near this number with any proposed offer, but it’s evident why they’ve taken a serious liking to the Turkey international.

Yildiz bagged nine goals and seven assists in all competitions last term, finishing the season as Juve’s highest-performing player by average match rating in Serie A (WhoScored).

Shoaib Bashir has costly day as Dan Lawrence-led Surrey surge

Worcestershire loanee Bashir equals most expensive over in English first-class cricket

ECB Reporters Network24-Jun-2024

Shoaib Bashir had an expensive day•Getty Images

Worcestershire 147 for 7 (Libby 61*, J Taylor 2-11, Lawrence 2-27) trail Surrey 490 (Lawrence 175, Smith 86, Sibley 76, Taylor 3-99) by 343 runsShoaib Bashir equalled the most expensive over in the history of English first class cricket while on loan to Worcestershire for the Vitality County Championship encounter with Surrey at ‘Visit Worcestershire New Road.’The England spinner, on loan for a month to Worcestershire from Somerset, conceded 38 runs including five successive sixes to Dan Lawrence.It was a wake-up call for Bashir who in the winter picked up 17 wickets in three Tests in India.Lawrence cleared the boundary with the first five deliveries of the over between long off and wide long on.The next ball went for five wides and then Lawrence took a single off a no ball before last man Dan Worrall failed to score off the eighth delivery.It equalled the 38 struck by Freddie Flintoff off Alex Tudor for Lancashire against Surrey in a Championship match at Old Trafford in 1998.Lawrence went onto to make a career-best 175 before he was last out with the Surrey first-innings total on 490.Worcestershire then slumped to 147 for 7 with only Jake Libby, with a 145-ball half century, offering much resistance as Lawrence’s fine day continued with two wickets.Lawrence surpassed his 161 for Essex – against Surrey in 2015 at the Kia Oval – in only his second first class match.The only other time more runs have been conceded in an over was a Shell Trophy encounter in New Zealand in 1990 when Lee Germon and Roger Ford (Canterbury) took advantage of contrived bowling from Robert Vance (Wellington) and hit 77.Lawrence had a scare in the middle of his sixes blitz when the third was caught by Adam Hose at long on but the Worcestershire batter carried the ball over the boundary rope.Surrey advanced from their overnight 340 for 5 in sedate fashion during the morning session, adding 88 in 29 overs for the loss of three wickets before Lawrence cut loose on the resumption.Worcestershire were without the injured pace bowler, Adam Finch (leg) and Academy player Chris Ellison deputised in the field.Tom Taylor struck in the first over of the day after Surrey had resumed on 340 for 5.Jordan Clark added only a single before he played back and picked out Bashir at midwicket.Lawrence, who had resumed on 91, completed his century in regal style with a cover drive off Taylor for his 14th boundary.Sean Abbott showed plenty of aggression in the chase for a fourth batting point but he paid the price after giving Taylor the charge and was bowled.Gus Atkinson tried to work Bashir to leg and was bowled to give the spinner his second wicket.James Taylor was run out after playing Bashir to third and attempting a second run and Lawrence’s fine knock ended when he was caught at deep backward point off Allison, his 223-ball knock containing six sixes and 16 fours.When Worcestershire batted, Sean Abbott struck with his first delivery after replacing Worrall when Gareth Roderick was caught behind from a delivery which nipped away.Kashif Ali, back in the side after his break from the game, made 17 before being strangled down the leg side off Atkinson at 59 for 2.Rob Jones was undone by a delivery of extra bounce by James Taylor to give Ben Foakes his third catch.Foakes held onto another chance after Hose (10) aimed a drive at a widish delivery from Taylor.Ethan Brookes, in his first Championship appearance for five years, then fell to a sharp catch at first slip by Ollie Pope off Clark at 99 for 5.Matthew Waite played back to Lawrence and was bowled and Tom Taylor departed in similar fashion for a duck.

Hanuma Vihari commits to Andhra after 'full assurance' from minister

The move came after he had said he would never play for Andhra again and was in talks with Madhya Pradesh to play for them

Shashank Kishore25-Jun-2024After stating publicly earlier this year that he would “never play for Andhra again”, out-of-favour India Test batter Hanuma Vihari is set to rejoin the association ahead of the upcoming domestic season. This after he was assured full support by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the state’s new ruling party.Earlier this month, Vihari was granted a long-awaited no-objection certificate by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). This followed a lengthy public spat in the aftermath of their 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign. At the time, Vihari had said he was “humiliated and embarrassed” at the treatment meted out to him by certain factions within the association. He alleged “political interference” as one of the reasons for him stepping down as captain at the start of the season.However, on Monday, Vihari held meetings with TDP officials before confirming his move.Related

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“I’m so happy to meet minister Nara Lokesh [TDP general secretary] today, and he assured me that I will have full support coming back to Andhra Cricket Association,” Vihari told reporters. “I am so happy meeting him, and I have got full assurance after meeting him. I understand his aspirations for the Andhra Cricket Association.”It’s good to be back in Andhra cricket. What I faced in the last couple of years was a lot of humiliation. I lost my self-respect. I wanted to leave Andhra Cricket Association and move to another state, but I’ve now got the assurance. So I am looking forward to coming back and serving Andhra for a long time to come.”Vihari’s U-turn, however, has left the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) fuming, with association insiders unhappy about being kept in the dark about the development. He was in talks to play for Madhya Pradesh last year, too, but the move fell through with neither party specifying the reason.ESPNcricinfo understands Vihari’s contract as a professional with MPCA was a formality after he had held talks with Chandrakant Pandit, MPCA’s director of cricket, over the move.Meanwhile, Vihari has also taken his first steps towards a possible coaching career in the future, joining Tamil Nadu Premier League team Madurai Panthers as mentor.Vihari, 30, played the most recent of his 16 Tests in July 2022. He has scored 839 runs at an average of 33.56 for India, with his lone century coming in the West Indies in 2019.Having started his career with Hyderabad in 2010-11, Vihari moved to Andhra in 2015-16. He then briefly returned to Hyderabad prior to the 2021-22 season before moving to Andhra again.

Advanced talks: Newcastle accelerating move to sign "incredible" £30m ace

In what could see them finally land a long-term target, Newcastle United are now reportedly accelerating their move to sign a £30m star with talks now advancing.

Newcastle's summer plans set to heat up

With the PSR deadline approaching as well as the start of pre-season, Newcastle insiders reportedly believe that the transfer window is set to heat up in the next week or two. And that Magpies could yet play a large part in that. The Champions League awaits Eddie Howe’s side next season and, for the first time in over a year, PIF seemingly have money to spend.

He's an Isak clone: Newcastle start discussions to sign £50m "superstar"

Newcastle have enquired about signing their next Alexander Isak.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jun 23, 2025

Unlike the last time that they were forced to balance European football with domestic commitments, Newcastle could put together a squad capable of competing on all fronts this summer. Just who comes in is the big question.

If reports are anything to go by, then the likes of Anthony Elanga will be a name to watch. The Nottingham Forest star was the subject of Newcastle’s interest late on last summer and is now seemingly back on their radar one year later.

Signing a right-winger is reportedly among Newcastle’s priorities this summer and with Bryan Mbeumo likely on his way to Manchester United rather than St James’ Park, a move to sign Elanga would certainly make sense.

That’s not Newcastle’s only priority, however. With Nick Pope now 33 years old and coming off the back of an injury-hit campaign, those in Tyneside have also set their sights on signing a new shot-stopper in the coming months.

Newcastle advance talks to sign James Trafford

To that end, the most prominent name mentioned over the last year has been James Trafford, and it now looks as though the Magpies could get their man.

According to TeamTalk, Newcastle are now in advanced talks to sign Trafford and are accelerating their £30m move to sign the Burnley star, which could be finalized as early as this week, with the goalkeeper reaffirming his desire to join Newcastle.

England's Jarell Quansah,JamesTraffordand Taylor Harwood-Bellis line up before the match

For all involved at St James’ Park, Trafford’s arrival would be seen as the ultimate success. He’s been a top target since early last summer and has since enjoyed a standout season as Burnley earned promotion back to the Premier League. At just 22 years old, he is one of the best young goalkeepers around.

Praised for an “incredible season” by scout Jacek Kulig back in February, £30m could quickly look like a bargain price for Trafford if he brings his Burnley form into Howe’s side next season.

With Antonio Cordero secured and Trafford reportedly on his way, the Magpies are off to a solid start on the transfer front this summer.

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