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Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton teenage star Tyler Dibling in 2025 and are closely monitoring James McAtee’s situation at Manchester City.
Dibling was close to joining in the summer of 2022 and met club staff during a visit to Tyneside. He had previously caught the attention of Eddie Howe and the recruiting team after scoring a hat-trick for Southampton Under 23s at St James’ Park when he was just 16 years old.
Former sporting director Dan Ashworth was tasked with leading the chase, but Dibling eventually signed for Chelsea, only to return to the Saints two months after failing to settle in London.
Sources have confirmed this week that the Magpies remain keenly interested and, with new sporting director Paul Mitchell having links to Southampton, we understand they will be kept informed of his situation.
Dibling can play as a midfielder or full-back and, despite Southampton’s struggles, has impressed during 12 league starts that have netted him two goals this season. The 18-year-old’s contract expires in 2026 and the club has the option to renew it for 12 months. Talks about a new agreement have been carried out without any progress.
The England Under-21 ace is expected to remain on the south coast this season but, come summer, Newcastle would be in a strong position to compete for the signature of a player they value extremely.
However, if Liverpool were to reaffirm their interest in the player, we’re told he would likely be at the front of the queue.
Meanwhile, City midfielder McAtee also has admirers within St James. Like Dibling, he can play as a winger and fits the profile of young English talent that Howe and the club have targeted in recent seasons.
Newcastle interested in signing Southampton teenage star Tyler Dibling this year
Newcastle could sign 18-year-old Dibling this summer but could face competition from Liverpool
They are also monitoring the situation of £25m Manchester City star James McAtee.
The 22-year-old, who is priced at £25million, has a host of domestic and overseas clubs interested in signing him this month, with his first-team opportunities limited to just three substitute appearances in the Premiership. League this season. .
For now, Newcastle’s focus is on expenses and sources continue to insist that any major revenue is unlikely in January. If McAtee were to stay at City, it is an interest that could be followed up in the summer.
MIGGY IN A MISTAKE
As for sales, there is no guarantee that Miguel Almirón will agree to move away from Newcastle this month.
Mail Sport revealed this week that the club has received an offer of around £5m from a top-flight Brazilian team.
However, we understand that Almirón would prefer to return to MLS, where he spent three years with Atlanta United before becoming Newcastle’s then record signing for £21 million in 2019, or stay in Europe.
The obstacle is the financial expectations of the winger and his agent. He is also said to be not desperate to leave, despite having made just one league start this season.
Charlotte FC maintains the greatest interest in the Paraguayan, while Leicester asked about him in the summer and is once again paying attention to the situation. All this leaves Almirón’s future in the air from now on.
Newcastle need to sell to buy this month (even then they could opt to delay arrivals until the summer) and midfielder Sean Longstaff is also available for transfer.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will remain as long as he is in the team, but that situation could change at the end of January if Nick Pope returns without complications from a knee injury. Dubravka’s representatives are believed to have reached a personal agreement with the Saudi club Al Shabab.
There is no guarantee that Miguel Almirón will move forward this month; Despite interest from Brazil, he would prefer to return to MLS.
BOTMAN’S BACK AND TRIPPS ARE GOOD!
Sven Botman has been declared fit to return to Tottenham this weekend, while Kieran Trippier is fine after leaving Manchester United on Monday night.
With Fabian Schar suspended for Saturday’s trip to Spurs – and the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Arsenal on Tuesday – Botman is now ready to play after nine months out following a serious knee injury. It will be up to Eddie Howe to decide on his inclusion.
The Dutch centre-back has overcome illness in recent days and, while his first start is likely to be delayed until the visit of Bromley in the FA Cup third round a week on Sunday, we should expect to see him at least among the substitutes. in the next two games.
Sources have indicated that Lloyd Kelly is more likely to replace Schar, with the fit Dan Burn moving to right centre-half.
Meanwhile, Trippier came off just before the hour during the 2-0 win at Old Trafford with what looked like a leg problem at the time. However, the former England star is believed to be fine and was not injured.
Howe, however, could still rotate him and fellow right-back Tino Livramento for the two games in four days in north London.
Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman fit to play against Tottenham this weekend
NON-STOP IN LONDON
A small detail: Newcastle will not stay in London between the Tottenham and Arsenal matches.
Rather, they will return to Tyneside immediately after Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off before returning for Tuesday afternoon’s kick-off at Emirates Stadium.
Confidential also understands that the first-team players involved in those games will have a few days off after Arsenal in the build-up to Bromley’s FA Cup tie, when a completely new XI could be fielded.
THE GEORDIE KIDS ON TOUR
Newcastle’s away finish during the win at Old Trafford was fueled by a current and former Toon player.
Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie was joined by fellow Geordie Paul Dummett to cheer on the 2-0 victory. Dummett, who left the club in the summer, made the short trip from Wigan, with whom he signed a short-term deal in November.
However, the 33-year-old is likely to be back on the market in January after finding himself out of the first-team picture at the Brick Community Stadium.
Former Toon star Paul Dummett cheered on Newcastle during their 2-0 win over Manchester United, as did current goalkeeper Mark Gillespie.
LOAN STARS
A Newcastle loanee scored on his Newcastle team-mate this week, as Joe White beat goalkeeper Max Thompson during MK Dons’ 2-1 win at Chesterfield.
It was White’s third goal in four games and the midfielder has Championship teams following his situation.
His loan deal with the League Two club has a January release clause but, given his good form of late, he could well decide it is better to stay with The Dons until the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Thompson continues to gain experience between the posts and the highly regarded 20-year-old has started 14 times for Chesterfield this season.
Magpies youngster Joe White has scored three goals in his last four games on loan at MK Dons.
ON THE CLIMB…
Eddie Howe is very much a touchline manager, but the head coach has recently been watching training from atop a platform aboard scaffolding.
The Newcastle manager never misses a shot in any session and even watches many of them on video later in the day.
And in the search for the answers that have led to the team’s excellent turnaround, Howe’s rise has coincided with Newcastle’s rise up the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe has started to view training from an elevated platform, and it seems to be working if the results on the field are any indication.
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PAULO AGRIO FOR LEWIS
The season-ending injury suffered by Jamal Lewis and which prompted his return from a loan spell in Sao Paulo will not have a huge impact on Newcastle’s PSR situation, because the club was paying most of his salary anyway. .
The defender underwent ankle surgery last month and will continue his rehabilitation on Tyneside, ending his ties with Sao Paulo ahead of schedule.
And with his Newcastle contract running until the summer, Lewis will leave on a free transfer, five years after his £15million arrival from Norwich City. This equates to over £500,000 per outing.
RIP MICHAEL NEWBERRY AND DAVID LEYES
There has been very sad news on two fronts this week, following the deaths of former Newcastle academy player Michael Newberry and former referee and Newcastle Airport boss David Laws.
Newberry died on December 30, his 27th birthday, and was currently playing for Cliftonville in Northern Ireland. He was born in Newcastle before joining the academy aged 11 and subsequently won the prestigious ‘Wor Jackie’ award which recognizes the city’s best football talent. He played in the same age group as Sean Longstaff.
I have never met or interviewed Michael but, like me, he played for the Red House Farm boys’ club in Gosforth, and everyone connected with that club speaks very warmly of him.
Meanwhile, David Laws passed away this week at the age of 66. He was well known in the region and was a popular and gigantic character.
He was a Football League referee for two decades and officiated in Rob Lee’s testimonial match in Newcastle against Athletic Bilbao in 2001, before becoming chief executive of the airport in 2006.
RIP Michael and David.
CARTOON ADVANCE!
It’s time for the Toon trailer. The final puzzle before Christmas was: can you name the sixteen players who have played for Newcastle and Ipswich since 1992? I’ve since been told that a couple of Newcastle players tried this… So if you’re reading guys, here are the answers: Darren Ambrose, Leon Best, Lee Bowyer, Titus Bramble, Michael Chopra, Jack Colback, Kieron Dyer, Ryan Fraser, Marlon Harewood, Shefki Kuqi, Alex Mathie, Daryl Murphy, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Andros Townsend and Chris Wood.
Since this is the second time Newcastle have played Tottenham this season, I can’t reuse the “played for both” format. So, I’m going to pick random EFL clubs to continue with the question style, given their popularity this season.
Here goes… name the THIRTEEN players who have played for Newcastle and Coventry since 1992… I would say at least 10 are very easy to get, but some of them are very difficult! Good luck!