Newcastle are close to signing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa for £40m after resisting competition from West Ham for the versatile 24-year-old midfielder.
With talks between the clubs advanced, it is understood personal terms should not be a problem. If the deal proceeds as planned Ramsey could be in Newcastle’s squad on Saturday for the opening Premier League fixture at, coincidentally, Villa Park.
Ramsey can operate anywhere across midfield and this will appeal to Eddie Howe as Newcastle’s manager seeks to fill the gap created by Sean Longstaff’s £15m departure for Leeds last month while preparing for a Champions League campaign.
Although Ramsey often started on the Villa bench he scored 17 goals in 167 appearances for the club and started about half of last season’s games. He made his debut in 2019 and Howe has long been an admirer.
Ramsey has also been the subject of serious interest from Tottenham and West Ham, the latter this summer. Villa were not actively trying to sell Ramsey, but his sale would rank as pure profit in terms of profitability and sustainability regulations.
Ramsey’s sale would allow Unai Emery to strengthen, with a versatile centre-back and an attacking player priorities. Villa could resurrect a deal for the Toulouse teenager Jaydee Canvot.
The Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers has admirers at Villa, who could target the Paris Saint-Germain forward Marco Asensio after he spent the second half of last season on loan at the club. The expectation had been Villa would seek an alternative to Asensio.
Newcastle have completed the £35m signing of the Germany central defender Malick Thiaw from Milan and remain in the market for two strikers.
With their Sweden centre‑forward Alexander Isak continuing to agitate for a transfer to Liverpool and training separately from the rest of Howe’s squad, Newcastle are locked in tricky negotiations with Brentford over a move for Yoane Wissa. Brentford have turned down a £25m bid and demanded £40m from Newcastle for a player who turns 29 in September.
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It had been hoped a compromise would be reached this week but, with Howe having made clear Isak will not be involved against Villa, it looks as if the England winger Anthony Gordon will be fielded out of position at centre-forward on Saturday.
Once Newcastle sign at least one new forward, Liverpool are expected to submit an improved bid for Isak. They have had a £110m offer rejected.
