Newcastle United are among a clutch of Premier League clubs who will be offered the chance to sign Ferran Torres when the transfer window reopens next month.
Torres is out of favour at Barcelona and with the Catalan giants needing to shift players this summer in order to free up the wage bill -after a demand from La Liga chiefs to reduce their finances - the 23-year-old is on a list of candidates who can leave. Eddie Howe has not specified which positions he is looking but Torres would not be against having another crack at the Premier League.
After leaving Man City, Torres has made 50 appearances for Barca, scoring eight times in the Spanish top-flight. He is valued at €30m but Barca may let him leave for less, which could provide a decent option for the Magpies.
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Newcastle scout Mick Tait was at Wembley to watch Luton's penalty shoot out victory over Coventry City. Tait has been around Europe this season but was on the domestic front this weekend.
One player United have been linked with is Viktor Gyokeres with the Sweden international facing another season in the Championship. Whether that was Tait's brief at Wembley remains to be seen but Howe is not against bringing in another forward in the upcoming window.
Brentford are also big admirers of the 24-year-old who has certainly delivered this season with 21 goals and 10 assists to his name so far.
A case of when Maddison leaves Leicester not if, with Newcastle on list of possible destinations
Newcastle United went as far as a £50million bid for James Maddison last summer last August without landing the England international. Relegated Leicester are resigned to losing Maddison with Newcastle on the list of linked clubs.
Notably, despite being dropped for the game at St James' Park, those close to Maddison say he was devastated not to start the game. Not because he was unable to show what he can do in front of Newcastle fans, but because he was deseperate to save the club that gave him his big chance.
That may have been a test of character passed in the eyes of Howe. But he has a full list of other options.
