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Aston Villa are growing in “frustration” in their pursuit of Galatasaray star Nicolo Zaniolo, and a reliable journalist has shared details of the official offer that’s been made.

Is Nicolo Zaniolo leaving Galatasaray?

The Italy international only arrived at the Rams Park Stadium from AS Roma back in February, but having majorly impressed during his 12 starts since putting pen to paper last season, he’s caught the eye of NSWE and Unai Emery in England.

The Super Lig’s attacking midfielder still has another four years to run on his contract as a result of joining Okan Buruk’s side just months ago, but that hasn’t stopped the Villa boss from “working on a deal” for his target, with Monchi already knowing the player having been the man who signed him at Roma.

Read The Latest Aston Villa Transfer News HERE…

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of today’s opening game of the Premier League season vs Newcastle, Emery was asked whether he was looking to bolster his ranks in the final third, specifically with the addition of the 24-year-old, to which he replied:

“Zaniolo is not a striker. He is versatile. He can play as a striker, a number seven or a number 10 and he is one of those on our list, with the qualities he has, to help us. He is one on the list and there are others."

Are Aston Villa signing Nicolo Zaniolo?

Taking to Twitter X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Aston Villa have now tabled an opening proposal for Zaniolo, but admitted that the board are losing their patience over how long it’s taking Galatasaray to make a decision whether to accept or decline the offer. He wrote:

“EXCL: Aston Villa submitted official bid for Nicolo Zaniolo. €3m loan fee. Salary covered. €20m buy option clause. €7m add-ons up to potential €27m [£23m] package in case Villa will buy Zaniolo. …still waiting for Gala’s final answer, frustration growing.”

How many goals has Nicolo Zaniolo scored?

At Galatasaray last season, Zaniolo managed to clock up six goal contributions (five goals and one assist) in 12 appearances after signing on the dotted line whilst averaging 2.2 shots per league game in the Serie A, the type of form which has previously seen him dubbed a “lethal playmaker” by journalist Zach Lowy.

The Massa native is also a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions over the pitch since the start of his career, including in central midfield and everywhere across the frontline alongside his usual role, so he would be a great option for Emery to have in the building should any unexpected injuries occur.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Zaniolo has additionally already been successful at the level that the Midlands outfit are trying to get to having won the Europa Conference League back in 2021/22, so for a player who’s already been there and done it, bringing him to the club really is a no-brainer of a decision to make and the board will be hoping that they see their bid accepted in the coming days.

Chelsea are starting a new chapter at Stamford Bridge with many mainstays departing this summer and a new manager in Mauricio Pochettino hopeful to lead the West London club to a comeback when they return to action next weekend.

The Blues will open their Premier League campaign with a challenging fixture against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge next Sunday and the former Tottenham Hotspur boss will be hoping to make a great first impression in front of an unsettled home support who experienced an unforgivable drop in the high expectations held last season.

Three different managers tried to repair the ongoing issues during the last campaign with neither Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter or club legend Frank Lampard able to stop the rot that ultimately led to a 12th place finish in the top-flight and failure to secure European football.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

With less than a month left before the transfer window closes until the turn of the year, the coming days and weeks are crucial to ensure Pochettino has enough depth and quality all over the pitch to replace departures, improve key positions and bring Chelsea back to life over the 38-game campaign.

Who are Chelsea's transfer targets?

Now that Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Robert Sanchez from Brighton and Hove Albion, the main focus is looking set on adding depth in midfield following a number of high-profile departures.

N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Denis Zakaria have all moved on this summer, and it is reported that Pochettino has drawn up a shortlist of midfield targets that include the likes of Leeds United's Tyler Adams, Ajax star Edson Alvarez and Brighton's Moises Caicedo.

However, due to a difficult season for newcomer Raheem Sterling, Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is a player who has been named as a potential target for Chelsea this week, as the club intend to improve the creativity in the final third and goal contributions delivered to compete more comfortably with their top six rivals.

It is believed that Palace are commanding a £35m transfer fee for their star forward this summer.

Will Chelsea sign Michael Olise?

After signing for Chelsea in a £50m deal last summer, Sterling joined the fold in West London with high expectations attached to him following his outstanding success at Manchester City.

However, it hasn't been the fairytale switch for the England winger who managed to only find the back of the net six times and delivered three assists over 28 Premier League appearances last season, an inconsistent output that contributed to the team's struggles to take all three points from their opponents.

As a result, the signing of Olise could present an opportunity to add depth to the attacking third, with the Crystal Palace star versatile in his positioning and to potentially secure the services of an upgrade on Sterling.

Over 37 Premier League appearances last season, the 21-year-old – hailed a "special talent" by his former manager Patrick Vieira – scored two goals, registered a whopping 11 assists and created 11 big chances, as well as averaging 1.5 successful dribbles, 1.9 key passes and 5.4 duels won per game, as per SofaScore.

When comparing Olise's output to Sterling's last season, the France U21 talent comfortably outperformed his position competitor in a number of key attributes including shot-creating actions per 90 (4.68 v 3.23), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.43 v 0.19) and aerial duels won (30.9% v 27.8%), as per FBref.

As well as completing more progressive passes (4.35 v 3.39), successful take-ons (1.77 v 1.54), tackles won (1.90 v 0.93) and interceptions (0.85 v 0.07) per 90 minutes played, demonstrating that the all-action winger is a much better ball-winner than Sterling, something that could be incredibly valuable to Chelsea.

With that being said, if Pochettino can seal a deal for Olise this summer it would be a major coup for the manager and would provide the team with a fresh perspective in the final third that could massively pay off in the long-term future of the club.

Perhaps the most pressing concern for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea is the lack of depth in midfield.

This year, the Blues have lost Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Mason Mount, leaving the club moderately light in the centre of the park.

Chelsea’s pursuit of Moises Caicedo has been long-winded and well-documented as they’re yet to reach an agreement for the 21-year-old. The west London outfit recently had a bid of £70m rejected by the Seagulls, but previous reports suggested that the Ecuadorian could cost up to £100m.

Brighton’s stance has probably been hardened by Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal, with the south coast side feeling they can acquire a similar fee for one of their biggest talents.

This frustrating process may force Chelsea in a different direction – and Marco Verratti has been suggested as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Marco Verratti to Chelsea?

According to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Chelsea are one of several European giants who are keen on signing Verratti.

He revealed there’s a chance that the 30-year-old will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Although it is understood that the French club’s official position is that he’s not for sale, they may listen to offers that match their valuation, which is around £70m.

However, Atletico Madrid, Al-Hilal and Liverpool have also expressed interest in securing the Italian’s signature. Regarding the rumours around the Premier League sides, they are not confirmed and Solhekol believes it may just be intermediaries, agents, or representatives offering Verratti to Liverpool and Chelsea at this stage, as both clubs are in need of midfielders.

Nevertheless, given that the Reds are on the verge of losing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho – as well as the brazenly chaotic transfer dealings of the new Chelsea ownership – a move to either side could yet happen.

Would Marco Verratti be a good signing for Chelsea?

The 55-cap international has been an impeccable club servant for PSG, as in over a decade of service he has made over 400 appearances and won nine Ligue 1 titles.

His diminutive weaving stature and imperious technical elegance has helped him form a formidable reputation across the globe as one of the most talented midfielders.

This has been recognised by Pep Guardiola, who has emphatically underlined his praise for the 5 foot 5 magician, saying: “I’m in love with him. He is exceptional. Even under pressure, he manages to find those passes that allow the midfield to be free. He’s not a player for long passes but you can always count on him to build the game.”

His style of play has led to comparisons with Thiago Alcantara, as per FBref, as both relentlessly dictate the tempo of matches with their passing, intelligence and movement.

This is mainly mirrored by their statistics on the ball as they average similar pass completion per 90 (92.6% vs 86.6%), progressive passes per 90 (9.81 vs 8.65), and successful take-ons per 90 (1.28 vs 1.33). Furthermore, these aforementioned figures place both men within the best 19% in Europe’s top five leagues among their positional peers for each of those metrics.

As well as this exemplary ball-playing competence, they also possess excellent and unexpected tenacity, ranking in the top 5% across the continent for tackles per 90.

Therefore, adding someone of this quality would be massive for Chelsea and would mean an exciting reunion with Pochettino.

Everton are just over three weeks away from their opening Premier League fixture against Fulham, and they have made a grand total of one signing this summer.

Ashley Young, albeit experienced, is 38 years old and hardly likely to get the revival started following a woeful couple of seasons in Merseyside.

The Toffees certainly need strengthening in almost all areas of the pitch and Sean Dyche will need to start securing some new arrivals in the next couple of weeks otherwise the pressure could start to build.

Having netted just 34 goals in 38 league matches last term, the need for a clinical centre-forward is obvious, yet their back line could also be bolstered, as they had the seventh-worst defensive total in the division, conceding 57 goals.

According to Tutto Juve (via Sport Witness), Everton are interested in signing young Belgian defender Koni de Winter this summer, and they have ‘inquired’ about his situation at Juventus.

How good is Koni de Winter?

The Goodison Park outfit face competition from French side Lille for the player as he looks set to undergo pre-season training at Juventus ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 21-year-old has a contract at the Serie A side until 2026, which means Dyche will have to stump up a decent fee in order to tempt them to sell and with Juventus holding the starlet in ‘high esteem’, any move could be tricky to work out.

That said, it would be a wise move should they complete a deal for the £10m-rated talent, as he could well be a dream replacement for James Tarkowski. Despite holding one of the worst defensive records in the division, the former Burnley defender emerged as one of their finest players during a terrible season.

The 30-year-old ranked third across the squad for overall Sofascore rating, accurate passes per game (34.6) and interceptions per game (1.3) while he also made 5.2 clearances each match, good enough to rank him top of the pile, proving to be an impressive signing.

He won't be around forever, however, and Dyche will soon have to find an ideal replacement to the centre-back sooner rather than later. De Winter could be the ideal candidate.

He has already made two appearances for the Bianconeri, coming in the Champions League during the 2021/22 season, showing that they clearly value his talent, yet he ended up at Empoli on a loan deal last term.

The 21-year-old made 14 appearances across the whole season and won 59% of his aerial duels along with making 4.5 clearances and one tackle per game, with the youngster clearly showing glimpses of his defensive talents.

His former teammate at Juventus Leonardo Bonucci lavished praise upon the 6 foot 2 gem back in 2021 when he was just emerging from the academy, claiming that the defender “has no fear” and if given a chance in the Premier League, he could accelerate his development.

Of course, Dyche will be looking at signing seasoned campaigners who have the required experience to push Everton towards the top half of the table, yet taking a gamble on players such as De Winter, a player dubbed "strong" by Pavel Nedved, could pay off handsomely in the future.

واصل فريق الهلال انتصارته في بطولة الدوري السعودي (دوري روشن) هذا الموسم 2023-2024، وحقق الفوز على منافسه الأخدود مساء اليوم الثلاثاء بنتيجة (3-0).

الهلال واجه الأخدود، على ملعبه “المملكة أرينا”، في إطار مواجهات الأسبوع الـ 26 من عمر مباريات بطولة الدوري السعودي.

وسجل هدف الهلال الأول المهاجم الدولي السعودي صالح الشهري في الدقيقة 16 من عمر الشوط الأول للمباراة، بعدما حول الكرة برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء إلى المرمي بعد تسديدة من زميله روبن نيفيز.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري السعودي بعد فوز الهلال والنصر أمام الأخدود وأبها

وأضاف الهدف الثاني للهلال، البرازيلي مالكوم في الدقيقة 66 من الشوط الثاني للمباراة بعد انفراد تام من وسط الملعب وسدد في الشباك.

وعزز قائد فريق الهلال سالم الدوسري من تقدم الزعيم وسجل الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 73 بتسديدة قوية من لمسة واحدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء بعد عرضية من الجبهة اليمني عن طريق روبن نيفيز.

الهلال بذلك الفوز يواصل سلسلة انتصارته المتتالية هذا الموسم، حيث حقق الانتصارالـ 31 على التوالي في جميع المسابقات هذا الموسم (الدوري السعودي ودوري أبطال آسيا وكأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين).

ويتربع فريق الهلال على صدارة ترتيب الدوري السعودي بعد 26 مباراة، برصيد 74 نقطة، فاز في 24 مباراة وتعادل في مباراتين ولم يتلق أي هزيمة خلال الموسم الحالي. أهداف مباراة الهلال والأخدود في الدوري السعودي (3-0)

Aston Villa are set to target Villarreal forward Samuel Chukwueze, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT.

Aston Villa transfer news – what is the latest with Samuel Chukwueze?

The Midlands side are one of many clubs across both the Premier League and across Europe that hold an interest in the wideman, with Unai Emery looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the Villains return to continental football for the first time in over a decade.

According to reports, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United are all interested in bringing in the Nigerian attacker to England.

The 24-year-old was part of two famous Villarreal sides that first beat United in the 2020/21 Europa League final, and then the following year was part of the Yellow Submarine side that reached a Champions League semi-final.

Chukwueze has made over 200 appearances across his Villarreal career, but has just 12 months remaining on his current contract and therefore the Spanish side may be forced to lower their asking price to not lose out on him for free.

What has Dean Jones got to say about Aston Villa and Samuel Chukwueze?

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT regarding Chukwueze, he said: “AC Milan have been exploring a deal for Samuel Chukwueze, but they are worried about him choosing a move to the Premier League instead. It’s interesting because Aston Villa want a wide attacker and have been linked with him a few times and this is the area of recruitment they are currently looking closely at.

Finding a new winger is considered the new priority for Emery after reaching a deal for Pau Torres because he wants a fresh dynamic to give his attack a new edge.

Villa have also been looking at Harvey Barnes and Brennan Johnson, so this is going to be interesting to see exactly how they narrow down the profile of the player they want and need. The ability to be adaptable is definitely something important, that’s what I keep being told.”

So, what is all the fuss about Samuel Chukwueze?

With 13 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, it's safe to say that the attacker deserves all the attention he is currently getting, having played a massive part in getting his side a place in Europe.

This has led to him being rightly hailed as a "beast" by members of the media.

Chukwueze would be a similar option to Leon Bailey for Villa, but he plays mainly on the opposite side to the Jamaican, which could lead to one of the most dangerous winger duos in the league should both stay fit and form chemistry together. One of the 24-year-old's biggest strengths, like Bailey, is his dribbling ability, with his 5.12 progressive carries putting him in the top 9% of all forwards across Europe's top five leagues. This is backed up by the fact that he has been hailed as a "crazy dribbler" and even upstaged Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, after his masterclass performance against Real Madrid.

Indeed, having signed Youri Tielemans and with Pau Torres seemingly on the way, things are certainly looking up for Aston Villa as Emery continues to work his magic on the transfer front.

Stand-in captain Alyssa Healy’s 77 was the backbone of the Sydney Sixers’ match-winning total of 169, with supporting roles from Sara McGlashan, Marizanne Kapp and Ashleigh Gardner

The Report by Will Macpherson at the Gabba25-Jan-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:15

Macpherson: Sixers have amazing depth in line-up

Like they did in the first edition of the Women’s Big Bash League, the Sydney Sixers thrashed the Hobart Hurricanes to book their spot in the final. Last year, the margin was ten wickets (Duckworth-Lewis method) and this time, under the scorching Brisbane sun, it was equally emphatic: 103 runs.Alyssa Healy’s 77 provided the backbone of a charge to 169, before the Hurricanes were bowled out for just 66. The Sixers will travel to Perth to face the Scorchers on Sunday and, if their male counterparts beat the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba, only two clubs will compete the finals.A Healy hurricane
Healy has reveled as captain since she took over from an injured Ellyse Perry. In her first game as stand-in captain, she made 84 off 56 against the Melbourne Renegades. Here, she was even more belligerent, making a magnificent 77 off 45 balls before cutting Hayley Matthews to point in the 13th over.Having opted to bat first, Healy thumped Amy Satterthwaite over long-on for six in the second over and by the time Ashleigh Gardner became the second batsman to be dismissed, caught brilliantly at point, Healy had scored 41 of the Sixers’ 49 runs. In the following over, she brought up her half-century with a pull over midwicket for six, and went on to play a cover drive, late cut and reverse sweeps for boundaries. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of her innings, however, was her running between the wickets and the ability to turn ones into twos.She was dismissed with the Sixers on 108, and resourceful knocks from Sara McGlashan (38), who was carrying a hamstring injury, and Marizanne Kapp (36 not out), left the Hurricanes with a stiff target of 170.In her two matches as stand-in captain, Alyssa Healy has scored 161 runs•Getty ImagesSixers’ fabulous fielding
Gardner has been the competition’s break-out star this season, largely due to the three half-centuries that have underpinned her brilliant batting efforts. But her bowling – she took her ninth and tenth wickets of the season, including the vital one of Hayley Matthews for a duck – and fielding have been excellent, too. It was a moment of magic from Gardner that nipped a solid start from the Hurricanes in the bud. She lobbed an off-break up at Erin Burns and it was drilled hard back at her, but barely a foot off the ground. She dropped low in her follow-through and took a fine catch, which was so tight that it had to be reviewed.That was not the last of the Sixers’ superb interventions in the field. Each of the seam bowlers hammered away with a consistent line and length, while the spinners were tough to get away. Angela Reakes took an excellent catch in the deep to get rid of Emma Thompson, but it was the run-outs of Heather Knight and Amy Satterthwaite – with sharp throws from Kim Garth and Dane van Niekerk (the latter a direct hit) – that guaranteed the Hurricanes would fall short.And yet… Hobart self-destruct
Hobart were out-classed but they also contributed to their own downfall. Healy was dropped on 18 by Brooke Hepburn at mid-on, and on 60 by Thompson at short third man, while Kapp was given a life on 13. With the bat, Satterthwaite was responsible for the run-outs of Knight and herself. They are the Hurricanes’ most reliable batsmen and once they fell, there was no way back for the side.The best two teams in the final
This was a complete performance from the Sixers and showed the intimidating depth in the squad. Amy Jones, the England international, could not make the side for this, while Lisa Sthalekar’s experience was not required either. Perry has been ruled out of the final but, given the Sixers’ dominance in the league stages and their performance today, the final against the Scorchers could serve up a humdinger.

Leeds United remain on the search for a new manager after the club decided to part ways with Sam Allardyce following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Telegraph recently reported that former Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke is on their shortlist to replace the former England boss. The German chief left Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

He is a proven Championship winner who could come in and provide the Whites with the lift they need to secure an automatic promotion straight back to the top-flight.

Farke won the second tier in both 2018/19 and 2020/21 and amassed a staggering 57 wins and 191 points combined to help the Canaries back to the big time, with the second one coming off the back of a relegation from the Premier League in 2019/20.

Would Daniel Farke be a success at Leeds?

The 46-year-old head coach could be a success at Elland Road as the club currently have a player who could be his next version of Norwich legend Teemu Pukki in Georginio Rutter.

During Farke's two title-winning campaigns with the Yellows, the Finland international plundered an eye-catching 55 goals and 14 assists in 84 appearances.

The experienced centre-forward led the promotion charge for the German chief with his astonishing ability in front of goal, which was aided by the 33-year-old's intelligent movement to run off the shoulder of defenders and race onto through balls.

Rutter, who failed to score in 11 Premier League matches for Leeds, has not showcased the same prolific form in England as of yet but the 21-year-old has the potential to be Farke's next Pukki.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig previously hailed the "powerful" French striker's "great" movement of the ball and his "blistering pace", whilst he described the former Rennes starlet as "clinical" in front of goal.

The £36m club-record signing has previously displayed his quality at the top end of the pitch. During the 2021/22 campaign, Rutter scored eight goals from seven expected goals (xG) for Hoffenheim, which shows that the exciting youngster outperformed the level of chances that were being sent his way.

Therefore, Farke could unearth the £70k-per-week dynamo's full potential at Leeds as the promising centre-forward has a similar style of play to Pukki – as they both use their excellent movement and speed to generate openings in front of goal – and the head coach has proven himself capable of designing a system to get the best out of that type of striker.

This means that Leeds could end up with their own version of the prolific Championship marksman by appointing the former Norwich boss to help Rutter find his feet on the pitch.

Arsenal's season ended in a carnival atmosphere at the Emirates, as the sun beat down on a beautiful day for one-half of north London football.

Brushing aside Wolverhampton Wanderers by 5-0, the players and staff were lauded by a home support keen to show their thanks for such an impressive season, where they defied all the odds and brought Champions League football back to the club.

However, Mikel Arteta will not be one to rest on his laurels. He knows that the work is far from done, as for all their progression it still marked a trophyless term where Manchester City pipped them to the title.

This could explain why interest has so sharply turned towards the transfer market, with Declan Rice the big name on everybody's lips. The Gunners' interest in West Ham United's captain is the worst-kept secret in English football, and it seems they are poised to battle hard to secure his signature.

In an effort to increase their chances, or hand him the perfect teammate to play with, this push has coincided with reports linking them with Mason Mount as well. In this potential double swoop, Arteta could form a sensational midfield to supplement the already phenomenal Martin Odegaard. Although, with the 24-year-old set to command a £70m fee from Chelsea, it will not be a cheap one.

Would Mason Mount and Declan Rice play well together?

One of the greatly underrated aspects of a good partnership, whether it be in the engine room, up front or at the heart of defence, is communication.

Journalist Art de Roche even outlined this recently with regard to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, noting how the Brazilian's preference to speak in French has allowed them to build such a strong bond.

Fortunately for Arteta, should he tempt both Mount and Rice to the Emirates, these two already share an unrivalled rapport given they grew up through the Chelsea youth ranks together.

Now, their shared assets could prove supplementary, as one has developed into a keen creator, and the other a defensive enforcer.

Mount has endured a trying injury-hit campaign with the Blues, yet has still managed nine goal contributions in all competitions. This has allowed a 7.05 average rating in the league to be mustered, upheld through 1.3 key passes and 1.4 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

talkSPORT pundit Dean Saunders even lauded him as part of England's "world-class" group of players before the World Cup too, suggesting that even during a weaker season his quality shines through.

After all, it was only last year when the England international posted 11 goals and ten assists in the league alone, highlighting his statistical success can mirror his work rate.

Now, placing this kind of creativity with Rice could immediately see both of them shine, as a pairing that would fight for one another as if they were brothers.

The Irons' star man, with his 2.1 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per game, via Sofascore, would provide the perfect defensive foundation for his potential teammate to thrive.

Whether they start as a six and an eight beside one another, or with Mount in an even more advanced role, these two in the same team could offer that perfect connection needed to only bolster the good vibes at the Emirates, propelling them ever-closer to that coveted title.

Newcastle United have scheduled talks regarding a new long-term contract for Fabian Schar, according to reports.

Is Fabian Schar leaving Newcastle?

The Magpies centre-back first arrived in the Premier League from Deportivo de La Coruna back in 2018 and has since gone on to make a total of 141 appearances to date, establishing himself as a regular feature in Eddie Howe’s side having made 36 top-flight starts from 38 games last season.

The Switzerland international, however, will be out of contract at the end of next season meaning that the upcoming window could be the northeast outfit’s last chance to cash in, should they not want to extend his stay, nor risk losing him for free, but it sounds like they don’t plan on letting the 31-year-old go anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Are Newcastle giving Schar a new contract?

According to Football Insider, Newcastle, and by extension owners PIF, are “keen to discuss” fresh terms with Schar and plan to open talks over the summer in a bid to tie him down at St. James’ Park. PIF are not only hoping to “protect” the defender’s value, but also “reward” him for his excellent standard of performances under Howe.

The 6 foot 1 titan can begin talks regarding a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs as of January 2024 due to his situation, but the board are no doubt hoping that he will decide to commit his future to the long-term project in the black and white stripes.

Should Newcastle keep or sell Schar?

Newcastle are reportedly confident of agreeing a new long-term contract for Bruno Guimaraes, and having once been hailed a “solid” centre-back by journalist Josh Bunting, Schar is definitely another player that deserves to stay longer.

The Puma-sponsored colossus, who earns £40k-per-week, averaged 3.8 clearances and 3.1 aerial wins per top-flight game last season, via WhoScored, so was a real rock at the heart of the backline, but he can equally be a threat pushing up the pitch.

The Sports360 client, who has the versatility to operate in defensive midfield, ranks in the 99th percentile for three different statistics, including total number of shots, not to mention that he posted four goal contributions (three assists and one goal) last term in the Premier League.

The Magpies will know that Schar isn’t getting any younger, so there’s a chance that he could be offered more of a short-term deal, but regardless of the length of the contract, it’s still fully warranted for the positive impact he has on Howe’s side.