❌

Normal view

Today — 14 December 2025Main stream

Sources: Tottenham showing “serious interest” in €70m Newcastle & Aston Villa target

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
14 December 2025 at 10:30

Igor Thiago has become one of the standout names of the winter transfer window. His strong performances for Brentford have put him firmly on the radar of Premier League giants.

Sources close to the player’s situation have informed CaughtOffside that Tottenham, Newcastle and Aston Villa are all showing “serious interest”, while clubs from Serie A and La Liga are also keeping an eye on the Brazilian striker.

Thiago has 12 goals in 16 matches this season.

Brentford set Igor Thiago asking price

Brentford’s stance is clear, and the club has set a price as high as €70 million, with some reports even mentioning £70 million. That figure makes a January move difficult, especially given Thiago’s contract until 2029. Brentford are reluctant to lose such a key player midway through the season.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery sees Thiago as a long-term alternative to Ollie Watkins and could push for a bid in the €50–57 million range. Tottenham have explored a loan deal, but Brentford are not open to it. Newcastle, who signed Yoane Wissa from Brentford in the summer but have yet to see him play due to injury, view Thiago as the ideal signing to strengthen their attack.

Given Brentford’s position, a big move in January looks unlikely. However, strong offers are expected to arrive in the summer. For Thiago, the priority remains playing regularly and performing well to secure his place in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Tottenham move could tempt Thiago

Igor Thiago of Brentford
Igor Thiago of Brentford (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

He will look to compete at a high-level and join a big club. The move to Tottenham would probably be more attractive for him compared to the other two clubs. Tottenham have an exciting project, and they recently won the UEFA Europa League. A quality striker could make a huge difference for them in the final third, and the move would be ideal for all parties.

It will be interesting to see if they are willing to pay the asking price in the summer.

The post Sources: Tottenham showing “serious interest” in €70m Newcastle & Aston Villa target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Sources: PL club eyeing Chelsea transfer target in saga that could impact Liverpool

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
12 December 2025 at 13:36

Chelsea are one of the clubs interested in a transfer move for Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ousmane Diomande, but they face competition from Crystal Palace.

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, the Eagles are making Diomande a top target to replace Marc Guehi, who continues to be targeted by Liverpool and other big clubs around Europe.

Sporting don’t want to sell Diomande and are pointing to his €80m release clause, which one imagines could prove problematic for Palace, but perhaps less so for Chelsea.

Other top clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Newcastle are also understood to have scouted Diomande in recent times.

Crystal Palace showing concrete interest in Ousmane Diomande

Ousmane Diomande challenges Kenan Yildiz for the ball
Ousmane Diomande challenges Kenan Yildiz for the ball (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)

The current feeling among sources in the industry is that Palace are showing the strongest interest in Diomande, followed by Chelsea.

This is a clear signal that the south Londoners are planning for life without Guehi, who won’t be signing a new contract and who is due to become a free agent next summer.

The England international was targeted by Liverpool towards the end of last summer’s transfer window, only for Palace to pull the plug late on as they didn’t have a replacement.

If they can land a talent like Diomande to strengthen their defence, however, then that would help fill the gap left by Guehi.

Marc Guehi not necessarily joining Liverpool

LFC fans will no doubt hope this is a boost for them in their pursuit of Guehi, but it doesn’t necessarily mean Anfield will be his next destination.

The 25-year-old will have numerous other suitors in for him, so in many ways Palace’s interest in Diomande doesn’t directly change that much.

It is yet another indication, however, that Guehi’s future lies away from Selhurst Park, so some Reds fans will surely see that as a positive, even if that already looked likely some time ago anyway.

The post Sources: PL club eyeing Chelsea transfer target in saga that could impact Liverpool appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report: Newcastle eyeing move for 22-year-old La Liga ace after glowing scout reports

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
11 December 2025 at 21:15

Newcastle United are interested in signing the Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra.

The talented young midfielder has been linked with a move away from the La Liga club, and his performances have been mediocre. According to a report from Fichajes, Newcastle United are interested in securing his signature, and they have identified him as a priority target.

Guerra was linked with Manchester United a few weeks ago. Arsenal were also keeping tabs on Guerra.

Newcastle keen on Javi Guerra

Newcastle are now looking to make a move for him in the near future. Newcastle have been scouting the player, and the reports have been consistently positive. It will be interesting to see if they follow up on their interest with an offer to get a deal done.

The player was valued at €25 million, but he has signed a new deal with Valencia until 2029, and the Spanish club are unlikely to let him leave for cheap now. They are likely to demand a premium. It remains to be seen whether Newcastle are prepared to pay.

Guerra would be an asset

Javi Guerra warming up for Valencia
Javi Guerra warming up for Valencia (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

They need more control and composure in the middle of the park. The 22-year-old would be a superb acquisition. He has the technical attributes for Premier League football, and he could establish himself as an important player for the English club.

The opportunity to move to the Premier League could be ideal for him. A fresh start could be instrumental in helping the player get back to his best. Newcastle have an ambitious project and a talented squad. They are competing in the UEFA Champions League, and they managed to win a domestic trophy last season. The Spanish midfielder will certainly be attracted to the idea of joining them.

It will be interesting to see if Newcastle decide to come forward with an offer in January. Despite his inconsistent performances, he is an important player for Valencia, and they might not be keen on losing him in the middle of the season.

The post Report: Newcastle eyeing move for 22-year-old La Liga ace after glowing scout reports appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Erling Haaland’s Newcastle remark prompts Lineker and Shearer question

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
11 December 2025 at 02:40

Norwegian International Erling Haaland has been exceptional since he moved to Manchester City.

He is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, and he was linked with other clubs before he decided to join Manchester City. In an interview, the player has now revealed that he watched Newcastle United as a kid, and there were plenty of Newcastle fans in Norway when he was growing up. He also added that there were several Leeds United fans as well.

Erling Haaland on Newcastle

Haaland said on The Rest is Football: “Because in Norway, it’s the league we watch. Everyone in Norway has got a team. There’s so many Newcastle supporters, especially in my hometown, because it’s under one hour flight to Newcastle.

“It’s really close. You know, so it’s always been that there’s so many Leeds fans.”

Reacting to his comments, former Premier League stars Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer questioned why he did not end up joining Newcastle.

“Why didn’t you go to Newcastle?” Lineker asked. “I was just about to ask that myself,” Shearer added.

Haaland would have been a coup

Erling Haaland celebrates a goal for Manchester City
Erling Haaland celebrates a goal for Manchester City (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Haaland would have been an exceptional acquisition for Newcastle, and the Magpies will be left wondering what could have been if they had managed to sign a player like him. He has been unstoppable for Manchester City since joining the club, and he could have transformed Newcastle in the attack.

The Magpies have an ambitious project and a quality team right now. They are hoping to build a squad capable of winning trophies every season. They have done well to sign the German attacker Nick Woltemade recently. However, they need more creativity on the side. It remains to be seen whether they can bring in the necessary additions and improve the team during the January transfer window.

They will be hoping to finish as high as possible and secure Champions League qualification for the next season.

The post Erling Haaland’s Newcastle remark prompts Lineker and Shearer question appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Newcastle midfielder spotted in training ahead of Leverkusen clash

✇CaughtOffside
By:Saikat
10 December 2025 at 01:30

Newcastle United will take on Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League during midweek, and they could hand Sam Alabi a call-up.

The 16-year-old was part of the matchday squad against Marseille as well, and he could be a part of the Newcastle travelling squad again. As per Newcastle World, Alabi was pictured during Monday’s training session with Newcastle, and it remains to be seen whether he is handed another opportunity here.

Sam Alabi could gain valuable experience

These are valuable experiences for him with the first team, and they will only help him improve, as Alabi is highly rated at the club. Newcastle will hope that he can develop into an important player for the club in future.

He needs first-team opportunities and more exposure in order to develop further. The talented young central midfielder joined Newcastle in the summer of 2023, and he is highly rated at the youth level. He has captained England at U17 level, and he will look to fulfil his potential with Newcastle in the future.

Newcastle United make transfer decision which shows complete change of strategy

Alabi is a future prospect

The young midfielder is clearly not ready to play for the Premier League club yet, but travelling with them in European fixtures will certainly give him valuable experience. It will be interesting to see if he can work hard in training and force his way into the first-team plans next season. There is no doubt that he is a promising talent, but he will need more experience in order to do well at the highest level.

Newcastle are looking to build a team for the future, and they need to groom the likes of Alabi carefully. The young midfielder will not only add more quality to the squad in future, but he could also end up saving millions for Newcastle in the transfer market.

Sources: Newcastle plot surprise move for £80k-a-week Chelsea flop in January

The post Newcastle midfielder spotted in training ahead of Leverkusen clash appeared first on CaughtOffside.

❌
❌