Newcastle Managing Director Lee Charnley risks pricing United out of the market for Rangers’ in-demand right-back James Tavernier, as Football Insider understand the Magpies chief intends to lowball the Gers in negotiations.
Steve Bruce is thought to be searching for upgrades at right-back ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline, and has three candidates in mind to challenge DeAndre Yedlin with the Premier League curtain-raiser at home to Arsenal on the horizon.
Along with Tavernier, the new Toon boss has set his sights set on reuniting with Aston Villa full-back Ahmed Elmohamady, while United are still in negotiations with Amiens’ over their Swedish defender Emil Krafth.
Elmohamady is seen as Bruce’s number one target, but is ready to urge the club to look toward Rangers if the Premier League new boys or Amiens reject our advances.
Gers boss Steven Gerrard is intent on retaining the 27-year-old, and has slapped a £10million asking price on his captain amid speculated interest from Newcastle and Aston Villa.
The Villains may look to secure his signature if Elmohamady leaves Villa Park this summer, as Dean Smith would like to have one option on hand who can challenge Frederic Guilbert.
Charnley risks pricing United out of the market for Tavernier, though, as it is alleged he will refuse to go any higher with his advances than £5million, half what Rangers are demanding for a player they are reluctant to losing.
Doing so could see the Magpies miss out on yet another target, having seen talks with Stanley Nsoki’s representatives breakdown over the weekend after failing to reach an agreement over his personal terms.
United had agreed to pay Paris Saint-Germain €11million (£10.1m) for the 20-year-old, but refused to offer the defender the sort of wage he felt he was worth given the role we had proposed he would occupy in Bruce’s plans.