Newcastle set asking prices for three Arsenal transfer targets

Newcastle have made their intentions clears to rival clubs who are already beginning to register interest in the club’s prize assets ahead of the summer transfer window.

With Champions League qualification now a remote possibility following a poor run of form, several star names already appear to be angling for moves elsewhere.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes and his midfield partner Sandro Tonali are both attracting admiring glannces from elsewhere, as are England internationals Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento.

Newcastle fought unsuccessfully in order to keep Alexander Isak out of the clutches of Liverpool last summer and eventually sold the striker for a British record fee.

When asked about player sales, David Hopkinson, the Newcastle chief executive, admitted the club will have to be open for business as they look to improve player trading to comply with new financial rules.

‘We haven’t got an overall strategy with regards [moving] players out,’ said Hopkinson, who was speaking at the release of the club’s accounts for the last financial year.

‘We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer.

But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club.

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‘That absolutely does (mean extracting the maximum price).

‘For me, Isak was a good sale (in terms of getting a British record fee).

I wasn’t here for the Isak situation, so I don’t want to comment on something I didn’t see first-hand.

‘What I do know is that players that leave this club will need to do so on our terms.’
Those terms are already being discussed internally with valuations placed on those players who are being targeted by other clubs.

Arsenal were first linked with a move for Tonali in January and are likely to look at strengthening their engine room again in the summer.

Manchester United, Chelsea and several Serie A clubs are also monitoring the Italy international’s situation but Newcastle, according to the Telegraph,Newcastle will hold out for a fee in the region of £100million.

The Magpies have put a similar price tag on Gordon who has long-been linked with Arsenal who appear certain to rebuild there left flank with both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard facing uncertain future.

Ben White, too, could be surplus to requirements come the close season with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta under pressure to sell in order to help balance the books after last summer’s record outlay.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Livramento’s situation with the full-back having two years left to run on his deal and the former Chelsea star having shown little inclination to extend his contract.

The 23-year-old joined Newcastle from Southampton three years ago in a £32m deal and the north east club would around double that if they were to part company with another player who looks destined to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.