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According to The Guardian’s Dominic Fifield, Crystal Palace are hoping to remove, or at least reduce, a sell-on clause inserted into Wilfried Zaha’s contract when he joined from Manchester United in 2015, should Aaron Wan-Bissaka end up moving to Old Trafford this summer.

The Guardian reported that the two clubs were due to meet again on Monday in order to try and thrash out a deal following an improved bid from the Red Devils over the weekend for the 21-year-old, with the Eagles looking for a guaranteed £50m for their academy graduate.

While he is clearly a player with huge potential, to get that money for an individual who has only made 46 appearances for the south London outfit would be too good to turn down.

If Palace sell Wan Bissaka and Zaha, will they be in another relegation battle? One fan gives his opinion in the video below…

The Guardian adds that cancelling the Zaha clause could be worth as much as £15m to Palace should the Ivory Coast international leave – something that has clearly worried some of the Selhurst Park faithful given their Twitter comments.

However, not everyone as looked at it in a negative way, with one believing that getting rid of the clause “would actually be really big for us”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Billboards are calling the series England’s Indian Summer, but it is India who are looking for that period of warmth, redemption after the last whitewash, for they have seen how bleak the winter that can follow is

Sidharth Monga in Nottingham07-Jul-2014″What’s the score?” “One more gone?” [Laughter]On January 17, 2012, India should have been playing tough Test cricket on the hard surface of the WACA Ground in Perth. They were not. Having been rolled over inside three days – their seventh successive overseas Test defeat – India rested on what would have been the fourth, trained on the fifth, and were back in the hotel by the time England’s Test against Pakistan began in faraway Dubai.The cricket was either not on TV or the players were going through their team exercises – gym and pool sessions, individual and team meetings etc. A few journalists were working in the team hotel’s foyer. Every few minutes a player would pop out to ask for the score in Dubai, and be informed of another fallen wicket as England went from 31 for 1 to 43 for 5 to 94 for 7 and eventually 192 all out on the first day. There was visible pleasure on their faces. From little things big things grow.Five days later, during India’s next press conference in Australia, came their first cry for turning pitches when England and Australia would tour later in the year. Such moments were the lowest point of India’s miserable run away from home.Why are we still talking of the dark days during a lovely start to the English summer with days long and birds atwitter?Because England matters. Of late England have been a bogey team for India in Tests. They have won three of the last five Tests that India have lost at home, they began the process of unravelling the strong Indian side in 2011, and three each of the five most successful batsmen and bowlers against India since 2011 have been Englishmen. Players of the 2011 Indian team must still be going to shrinks to deal with the recurring nightmares of long days in the field when nothing happened with the ball only for it to become unplayable when they batted.In the recent past, more often than not, India have had to do with schadenfreude when it comes to England. Now that they are back in England, India have been provided ingredients for more schadenfreude. Around the time they were getting measured for final alterations on their tour blazers, the India players would have heard of the meltdown the England captain Alastair Cook had while responding to Shane Warne’s criticism of his “boring” and “defensive” captaincy. By the time they were sipping their first Earl Greys or India Pale Ales, England had lost a home Test series to Sri Lanka.No laughter this time, though. Not in public at least. Instead of turning the screw through some kind of mental disintegration, India have chosen to stay low key, which is usually their way unless they are rattled or the inimitable Virender Sehwag is at press conferences. The first signs point to a calm team quietly hopeful and confident. They know this is a good chance for a young group, which came awfully close to winning Tests in South Africa and New Zealand, to finally put one, and then more, on the board.

The hosts right now are in similar disarray to what India were when England toured India in 2012-13. Like then with India, the ruthless whitewash in Australia has claimed careers, and has left the hosts vulnerable. Consequently India’s batting is more stable than England’s, although they are bound to be less familiar with the conditions. However, they also know that Sri Lanka’s attack had the same England batting in some trouble in both Tests; India’s is not exactly a worse attack than Sri Lanka’s. There is cause for optimism, but there is no way India – least of all – are considering themselves favourites.

That confidence must arise from a promising batting line-up as much as it does from England’s disintegration. The hosts are in disarray, similar to what India went through when England toured India in 2012-13. Like then with India, the ruthless whitewash in Australia has claimed careers, and has left the hosts vulnerable. Consequently India’s batting is more stable than England’s, less likely to play weak shots to get out as they showed in their two previous trips, although they are bound to be less familiar with the conditions. However, they also know that Sri Lanka’s attack had the England batting in trouble in both Tests; India’s bowling is not exactly worse than Sri Lanka’s. There is cause for optimism, but there is no way India are considering themselves favourites.This whole tour is a vast unknown for India. Most of them have played, and done well in, ODI cricket in England, but only three – MS Dhoni, Ishant Sharma and Gautam Gambhir – of the 18-member squad have played a Test here. Only four – M Vijay being the other – have tasted Test success away from home. India last won an away Test just before going to England in 2011. None of them has ever played a five-Test series, though questions over longevity are being asked of England too, what with Sri Lanka proving stubborn, pitches good for batting, and seven Tests to be played in the summer. India’s stock bowler, their workhorse, and also their most experienced one, boasts one of the worst records for any bowler who has lasted 50 Tests. Their captain has had tactics questioned, and has been labelled defensive, more often than his counterpart.With the unknown comes the beauty of possibility. It’s almost a clean slate for a majority of this team. If they see an England partnership developing, they are less likely to think, “Here we go again.” The Indian newcomers of today aren’t the newcomers of the ’90s and before. They are confident, combative, aware, privileged with the best of facilities and finances, and do not build pressure on themselves by putting a tour on a pedestal.And within that unknown, the India players are pretty certain of their roles, which will not change much from what they were in South Africa and New Zealand. Vijay will look to fight at the top with the discipline he scarcely gets credit for, Shikhar Dhawan will try to impose himself; Cheteshwar Pujara will play his usual game while Virat Kohli will look to take it to the opposition if he manages to get in; Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane will have to get runs with the lower-middle and lower order.Bowling has always been India’s worry, and will continue to be. This is where India can be hurt. This is the first time in a long time they have embarked on a big tour without their de facto bowling captain, Zaheer Khan, who would have been fit midway during the series. Picking someone not fit right then and there is a mistake they were not going to repeat after 2011. Over the last two trips, the bowlers have inspired to an extent and against the odds; now they will need to make it a bit of a norm. They can’t afford for the intensity to drop in – at 42 days from start to finish – the most compressed five-Test series England has ever hosted.Sri Lanka had the England batting in some trouble in both Tests. India’s is not exactly a worse attack than Sri Lanka’s•Getty ImagesBhuvneshwar Kumar will try to do what Praveen Kumar did on the last trip: swing the ball, either way, and look for edges. Mohammed Shami will be the impact man, looking to bowl fast and get seam movement. India will look to use him in short, sharp bursts. Ishant will have to do the donkey’s work when the shine on the ball has worn off. Rangana Herath’s success in the first part of the summer might just have tipped the scales in favour of Ravindra Jadeja to start ahead of R Ashwin. India haven’t looked shy of experimenting with an extra bowler, but there is time to go before Stuart Binny is handed his Test cap.The most important role – though he won’t admit it and invite extra pressure – will be that of the captain Dhoni. He has won all there is to win in limited-overs cricket, but the last two Test tours to England and Australia have to rankle. Try as he might to keep the idea of legacy from clouding his current state of mind, the competitor in him will want to correct this record. More so because there were instances on both tours when India let Test matches drift in the field, something that can be pinned as much on the captain as on the bowlers. He has a younger and more athletic bunch in the field, which he has always sought, but they are also poorer in the slips. To manage with these bowling resources, not in limited-overs cricket with finite possibilities, but over a gruelling five-Test series with all its infiniteness, will be a stern test of Dhoni’s captaincy.Here in England, headlines and billboards are calling this series England’s Indian Summer. Some of their players might have, to borrow from The Doors’ , loved India the best, “better than all the rest”, but it is India who are looking for that late period of warmth, a bit of redemption after the last whitewash. They don’t want Anderson and Broad, and Bell and Cook to love them better than the rest. They need their own Indian Summer, for they have known how bleak and full of agony the winter that can follow is.

After last year’s drubbing, Delhi Daredevils opted for wholesale changes this season. It made little difference, though, as they floundered in every department and finished bottom of the table again

Rachna Shetty26-May-201411:12

Season review – Duminy, the only positive for Delhi Daredevils

Kevin Pietersen’s batting and captaincy were not up to scratch•BCCI

Where they finished

Last, with two wins in 14 games.

What went right

Little went right for Delhi Daredevils this season. After their last-place finish in IPL 2013, they began 2014 on a shaky note. Their loss in the opening game to Royal Challengers Bangalore was their seventh successive one, but they picked up the pieces in the next match against Kolkata Knight Riders, winning by four wickets. Three matches later, they restricted Mumbai Indians to 125 for 6, their best bowling performance of the season, and went on to win by six wickets. That, however, would be their last win in IPL 2014 before another losing streak of nine matches – their third extended string of losses over the past two seasons and their worst in the IPL.

What went wrong

After last year’s drubbing, where they finished in ninth place, change was the buzzword for Daredevils. They brought in Gary Kirsten as coach. They opted to not retain any of their players ahead of the auction, the only franchise to do so. Along with Royal Challengers Bangalore, they also spent their entire budget.After the auction, the one thing that stood out about the Daredevils squad was how heavily batting-centric it was. James Neesham and Laxmi Shukla were their slotted allrounders but neither played a season entirely. Packing the side with batsmen also meant they could never quite hit on a combination that put batsmen in best-suited slots. Ross Taylor, for instance, is primarily a top-order batsman even in T20s but was played at No. 6 in three of the four games he played this season. JP Duminy and Kedar Jadhav were slotted in as finishers and batted low down despite being their best batsmen; Daredevils suffered as their best batsmen were denied significant batting time at the crease. It didn’t help that opener M Vijay – who was picked up by Daredevils after being a regular performer for Chennai Super Kings over the seasons – was in woeful touch.Their bowling was left considerably weakened by injuries, lack of form and the absence of a plan B. Nathan Coulter-Nile’s departure due to injury left Daredevils’ pace attack reliant on Wayne Parnell and Mohammed Shami and both couldn’t step up. Their Indian pacers, Jaydev Unadkat and Rahul Shukla, had mediocre seasons. An average of 3.6 wickets per match is hardly the sign of a winning team. Near the end of the season, Eric Simons, the franchise’s fast-bowling coach, admitted he had been using mats to train his bowlers to bowl to appropriate lengths – which they consistently missed.The spinners didn’t fare any better, evidenced from the fact that midway through the tournament, Duminy, a part-timer, was the best spinner. Shahbaz Nadeem flopped and Rahul Sharma was given just two games. Imran Tahir’s late addition to the side barely made a ripple, in spite of his form in the World T20 that preceded the IPL.

Key stat

Delhi Daredevils were the worst bowling team of the tournament. They took the fewest wickets (51) at the worst average (41.47) at the highest strike rate (29.40) and had the most expensive economy rate (8.44). They did not bowl a single maiden over, and none of their bowlers claimed a four-wicket haul.

Best player

Undoubtedly, JP Duminy. Their only batsman to feature among the top 10 run-getters, he repeatedly had to step in either to stem a collapse or score quick runs when the side was almost out of time. In spite of that, he finished the season with 410 runs at an average of 51.25. Also, Duminy was the most economical of Daredevils’ bowlers (apart from Coulter-Nile who exited early in the campaign), bowling his part-time offspinners in 11 games out of 14.

Poor performer

When you spend a third of your auction budget on two batsmen, high expectations are a part of the package. Unfortunately for Daredevils, Kevin Pietersen and Dinesh Karthik did not have much of an impact at all. While Karthik managed three fifties, he couldn’t reproduce the consistency he showed for Mumbai Indians in the league stages of IPL 2013. Pietersen, playing in his first tournament as a free agent, missed a few games at the start due to injury and found semblance of form only towards the very end of the tournament when it was too late. His captaincy also left a lot to be desired.

Surprise package

Until 2014, Kedar Jadhav had had indifferent seasons with Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, including one last year where he scored 152 runs in 12 innings. This season, lifted by his form that helped him score six hundreds in the Ranji Trophy, Jadhav quickly settled into the niche of a finisher. In 10 innings, he scored 149 runs which came at a brisk strike rate of 147.52, the best among Daredevils’ batsmen.

Memorable moment

One of the more forgettable aspects of IPL 2014 for Kevin Pietersen was his running between the wickets. In both matches against Rajasthan Royals, Pietersen escaped being run-out. In the first instance, the umpire Sanjay Hazare, shot down an appeal from Royals, a decision for which he was later stood down from the IPL. In the second game, Pietersen’s bat was stuck in the turf and his foot was in the air when the ball hit the stumps. Royals, however, did not appeal for the run-out. The image of Daredevils’ struggles was best captured, perhaps, by Manoj Tiwary’s run-out against Kings XI Punjab in their last league game.

Unused players

Milind Kumar, HS Sharath and Jayant Yadav. Saurabh Tiwary was ruled out after the UAE leg due to a shoulder injury.

Inter Miami are not ruling out the prospect of taking Lionel Messi back to Barcelona for the first game at what will be a revamped Camp Nou.

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• Argentine icon is a legend in Catalunya
• Now plying his trade in the United States
• Talk of friendly game being arranged

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  La Liga giants Barca are in the process of giving their iconic home a serious facelift. There have been suggestions that games could be played at that venue, with a reduced capacity as work is completed, from December 2024.

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  If that window of opportunity does open up, then Inter Miami would be free of MLS commitments as the American season will have finished. Barcelona will be in the middle of their 2024-25 campaign, but a glamour friendly could be lined up.

• WHAT ASENSI SAID

  Quizzed on why a clash between Inter Miami and Barca has not been organised since Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez joined the ranks at Chase Stadium, Xavier Asensi – the Herons’ president of operations – told : “It's a matter of timing. The 2020 match was part of the tour that we were able to prepare. Since we played in the Leagues Cup, we don't have the visibility of the possibility of playing a friendly. In January or December we can't know if it will fit into the calendar.”

  He added when asked about taking Messi to Camp Nou for the reopening of a ground that he graced with distinction for 17 years: “It depends on when it is… Let's talk about it.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Messi registered a record-breaking haul of 672 goals for Barcelona through 778 appearances. He helped them to 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns. He left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, before making his way to Miami two years later.

Whilst recent results may have restored some of the good feeling at Old Trafford, it is clear that Erik ten Hag is still on thin ice at Manchester United with Sir Jim Ratcliffe already looking at other options.

Ten Hag facing uncertain future at Man Utd

Amad Diallo's last grasp winner at the weekend saw Man Utd progress to the FA Cup semi-finals at the expense of rivals Liverpool. Whilst the added time victory was celebrated on the red side of Manchester, many in the fanbase may still feel that the Red Devils need a new manager if they are to return to the top of the Premier League.

Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning to move for “important player”

The update comes courtesy of journalist Fabrizio Romano.

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 10, 2024

Currently sitting sixth in the table, United are nine points away from the Champions League places and look unlikely to make up the gap in the remaining 10 games of the season.

In his first season in charge, Ten Hag managed to guide the Red Devils to a third-placed finish as well as a League Cup victory over Newcastle. This season has not gone as well with United struggling in the league and bowing out of Europe in embarrassing fashion, finishing at the bottom of their Champions League group.

Ratcliffe had initially shown faith in Ten Hag, however, the new part owner now looks set to explore other options to fill the dugout at the Theatre of Dreams.

Ratcliffe wants Southgate at Man Utd

As reported by The Daily Star, the new part-owner has identified Gareth Southgate as his number one target to be Ten Hag's successor at Man United.

The outlet states that "Ratcliffe and INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford have consulted some of United’s former greats about who should replace Ten Hag. And the overwhelming choice was Southgate". The former Middlesbrough manager was also the favourite of incoming director of football Dan Ashworth who had previously worked with Southgate during his time at the FA.

Despite the club's interest in the coach, the report claims that Southgate, who plays an attacking 4-3-3 system, is not interested in discussing his future at the moment with the 53-year-old focused on the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

The England boss's contract is set to expire in December 2024 with a compensation fee of around £800,000 necessary to lure Southgate away from the national team once the Euros conclude in July. Ratcliffe reportedly wants a decision from the 53-year-old soon so that he can start planning for next season.

Whilst often maligned for his style of play, Southgate has overseen vast improvements to the national team. The last three major tournaments have seen the Three Lions reach the semi-finals, final and quarter-finals respectively, with just a penalty shootout keeping them away from European Championship glory back in 2021.

With a major rebuild at Old Trafford planned for the summer, the Red Devils could do a lot worse than a manager known in England and with a proven track record in turning around struggling sides.

Chelsea captain Reece James admits that the racist chanting storm sparked by Enzo Fernandez “could be a problem” in the Blues’ dressing room.

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• Derogatory song from Argentina players
• Fofana among those to have condemned actions
• Internal investigation underway in west London

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Argentina international Enzo live streamed the celebrations which accompanied the reigning world champions successfully defending their Copa America crown. Within those, certain players could be seen signing a derogatory song about the number of players in the France squad that boast African heritage.

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  Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana, who is a France international of Ivorian descent, has spoken out against the “uninhibited racism” displayed by Argentina players. Enzo has since apologised for his actions, while an internal investigation has been opened at Stamford Bridge.

• WHAT JAMES SAID

  Blues skipper James has told when asked if the saga threatens to impact squad harmony: “Of course. There’s always the factor where it doesn’t sit right with people when there could be a problem. But until the day comes where everyone’s together and in a room together, I don’t know, but I hope things can be resolved smoothly and we can move forward with the season.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The England international full-back added when asked if he has held a conversation with Enzo: “I spoke to him a bit, but it was hard because we were on different time zones. Just a general chat really. His views on what happened and him trying to explain his situation and how things happened. It’s a really difficult situation. There’s no room for racism or discrimination in football. I think he quickly put his hand up and acknowledged he’d done wrong and apologised to his teammates, the club and the rest of the people that were offended. I think that was probably the best he could have done in that situation.”

Sitting in the Championship relegation zone on goal difference, Sheffield Wednesday have suddenly found some of the best form in the division as they attempt to climb away from danger. And as they prepare to face promotion contenders Leeds United, Danny Rohl has been handed a much-needed boost.

Sheffield Wednesday injury news

The Owls boosted their survival chances by defeating Plymouth Argyle last time out in a narrow 1-0 victory to drag the Pilgrims back into a relegation scrap. Now, as things stand, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City and Huddersfield Town all sit on 38 points with the Terriers currently on course to survive on goal difference.

8/10 Sheffield Wednesday star who won seven duels shone v Plymouth

Sheffield Wednesday picked up another vital win courtesy of this excellent star.

By
Kelan Sarson

Mar 6, 2024

With ten games remaining, every moment matters for Rohl's side, who will have to contend with the absence of Josh Windass against Leeds this Friday. Rohl confirmed that Windass isn't ready to make his return, saying via The Yorkshire Evening Post: "At the moment there's no chance (of him playing). We know Josh is having some small injuries again and again and they are really building up so hopefully we have him available after the international break for the last games."

That's not to say that the manager failed to provide good news, however. Rohl confirmed that Barry Bannan will be fit to play against Leeds, despite coming off at half-time through injury against Plymouth in mid-week. The Owls boss said: "Barry Bannan looks fantastic, he trained today no problem.

"The good thing is this week we had a lot of players available, it gives us an opportunity to bring fresh legs in. It's very helpful, especially against an opponent like Leeds to be ready on the physical side of things but also the mindset."

Losing Bannan in the final stretch would have been a major blow for Sheffield Wednesday, there's no doubting that, so for their captain to return so soon after an injury scare in mid-week should provide Rohl's side with a major boost against Leeds.

"Vital" Bannan can help cause shock upset

Even with Bannan fit and firing, Sheffield Wednesday face an uphill battle when it comes to putting an end to Leeds' recent 11-game unbeaten run in the Championship. But the experienced captain's swift return certainly boosts the Owls' chances against Daniel Farke's side.

What's more, their Yorkshire rivals had to work for their 1-0 victory over Stoke City in mid-week, who are also battling to survive, potentially leaving the door ajar for a shock upset at Hillsborough this Friday. Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Darren Moore, like many, was well aware of the impact that Bannan can make.

Moore told The Star last season: "Baz is really effective at this level in terms of how he sees the game and the pictures he sees. He's intelligent enough to recognise the tempo of the match. He's a vital player for us, in and out of possession.

“What about his run back to spoil the breakaway by Peterborough? It was fantastic, and he's done it numerous times for us this season. It just goes to show you it's not just about the backline players, that solidness goes right through the team."

Josh Sargent endured a baptism of fire in England, but the USMNT striker has been assured that he can be a Premier League player.

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• Forward joined Canaries in 2021
• Spent two years in the Championship
• Linked with teams in top-flight

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international linked up with Norwich City in 2021, as they prepared for life back in the big time. He registered just two top-flight goals during his debut campaign at Carrow Road – which ended with relegation into the Championship.

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  Sargent hit 13 goals in his second season with the Canaries, before posting another personal best in 2023-24 as he found the target on 16 occasions – despite missing several weeks through injury. There has been talk of Premier League interest being shown in the 24-year-old, who looks better prepared to handle the demands of life among English football’s elite.

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  WHAT MILLS SAID

  Former Norwich defender Danny Mills has, speaking in association with , told GOAL when asked about the progress Sargent has made: “Sometimes with young players it’s difficult. That first step into the Premier League is tough, especially when you’re in a team that isn’t playing particularly well. When you scrape into the Premier League, you start at the bottom of the pile. You are used to winning, used to having the ball, used to being confident and dominating games. Suddenly, it’s a complete role reversal and you are up against it constantly – it’s a different mindset. I always say League Two to League One is a step. League One to the Championship is a step. The Championship to the Premier League is five steps. It’s a huge leap in terms of quality, throughout the whole squad. Sometimes it takes a little bit of learning. That’s what you have to do. I’m sure he’s done that. I’m sure he’s grown and understands the demands of what it takes to be a Premier League player. I’m sure he’s got a very bright future ahead of him.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sargent helped to fire Norwich into the play-offs last season, but they now face a fight to keep him. Mills added when asked if the Canaries have a transfer fee in mind that is deemed acceptable: “Everybody is saleable. Every single player on the planet has a price, no matter what anybody says. In this day and age, when you have the player – especially if the player has expressed that he would like to leave to further his career – there aren’t too many clubs or managers that will stand in that way. They are not in the game of holding people back.

  "There will be sensible conversations and say ‘look, if we get this money in, we can reinvest that in our squad and maybe bring in three or four players with that money and make our squad stronger’. It’s about being realistic. The two parties, and I’m sure agents and chief execs, will sit down and say ‘if you want to go, if we get to this figure then potentially it can happen’. But also, they will want to get that business done sooner rather than later, because you have got your dominoes all lined up and until that first one gets knocked over you can’t start pulling the trigger on other deals. If it is going to happen, Norwich would rather it happened sooner rather than later.”

Newcastle United's 3-2 loss to Chelsea on Monday night was just another in a long list of disappointing results this season.

Eddie Howe's side haven't been able to replicate their impressive form from 2022/23, and they currently sit tenth in the Premier League.

However, compared to where they were just a couple of years ago, the club are on a clear trajectory, and with a team full of talented stars, it's only a matter of time until they start regularly challenging the big boys.

For example, starters like Joelinton have seen their value skyrocket over the last few years, although another star's worth has increased even more.

Joelinton's value since joining Newcastle

Newcastle signed the Brazilian from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in July 2019 for a then-club record fee of £40m during the torrid reign of Mike Ashley.

His arrival came with lofty expectations due to his impressive form in Germany, but his first few years in English football didn't entirely go to plan.

Then-manager Steve Bruce opted to start the Aliança-born star as the team's sole striker for the first two and a half seasons at the club, a decision which was the wrong one as it saw him score just 12 goals in 73 games and get labelled as the 'worst transfer in recent Premier League history' by some in the press.

That all changed with the arrival of Howe, who, after a few more games of playing the Brazilian as a nine, opted to start him in central and attacking midfield, a position he has come to dominate in the years since.

In all, the 27-year-old has made 180 appearances for the Magpies, came second in the club's Player of the Year award in 2022, is set to sign a lucrative new contract this year and, best of all, has seen his valuation rise above what he originally cost the club.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, the Toon titan is now worth around €60m, about £51m – or £11m more than he cost the club in 2019. However, another star at the club has seen his value soar even higher.

Alexander Isak's transfer valuation in 2024

Swedish striker Alexander Isak moved to St James' Park from Real Sociedad in August 2022 for another club record fee, this time £63m.

The then-22-year-old was effective from the word go and opened his account with a goal against Liverpool on his debut.

The rest of the campaign was a mixed bag for the Swede. When he was playing, he was arguably one of the best strikers in the league, scoring ten goals in 27 appearances, but a thigh injury saw him miss 16 games and disrupt his campaign.

It's been a similar story this year for the "outstanding" nine, as dubbed by Howe, as he has scored an impressive 16 goals in 29 appearances but missed ten games through a recurring groin injury.

That said, the 6 foot 4 goal machine is clearly an incredible talent, and his increasing value represents that, as according to the CIES Football Observatory, he's now worth around €100m, which is £85m – or £22m more than Newcastle paid for him just a year and a half ago.

Outscoring Isak: Newcastle may have sanctioned their £1.7m sale too early

The player left Newcastle United behind in a £2m deal.

By
Ethan Lamb

Mar 7, 2024

Ultimately, while 2023/24 hasn't been the most enjoyable season for the fans, a team filled with players like Joelinton and Isak isn't going to stay down for too long.

If the club can add one or two more quality players in the summer, they could cause a real upset next year.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

New Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe will be presented to the Spanish club's fans in a sold out Santiago Bernabeu, according to a report.

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• Mbappe to be unveiled as Madrid player
• Tickets sold rapidly ahead of ceremony
• Forward will be presented on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The forward is joining Madrid on a free transfer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, bringing an end to a long saga that stretches back years. After being eliminated from Euro 2024 with France, the 25-year-old will be unveiled to the club's fans on Tuesday.

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  Tickets to the ceremony sold out rapidly after going on sale on Friday, according to . More than 85 per cent were sold by the end of the first day and are now all gone. There will be around 80,000 Madrid supporters in attendance to see Mbappe.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  After scoring 256 goals in just over 300 matches for French giants PSG, Mbappe will sign a contract with Madrid that keeps him at the European and Spanish champions until 2029. The attacker has great expectations to live up to as he joins the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and fellow France stars Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga in Carlo Ancelotti's team.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Madrid president Florentino Perez will show off the former Monaco star to the club's supporters at 12:00 on Tuesday. The France international will then begin preparing for the new season with his new team-mates as they look to defend their La Liga and Champions League crowns.