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Newcastle United could enter the transfer market for multiple additions this summer in order to juggle both domestic and European football heading into 2023/24, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

What's the latest news involving Newcastle United and Eddie Howe?

Newcastle took a big step forward to securing a top-four finish on Thursday night, with a double from Callum Wilson and strikes from Joelinton and Jacob Murphy giving the Magpies a comfortable 4-1 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

In terms of the Premier League, Newcastle now sit third place in the table on 62 points, eight clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth position having played a game less than their divisional rivals.

Magpies boss Howe is taking nothing for granted in his side's pursuit of Champions League qualification, stating to Sky Sports after the win over Everton:

"We know nothing is taken for granted from our perspective. It puts us in a lot stronger position. To get six points from Tottenham and Everton is a great return."

Of course, the prospect of playing in the Champions League next season has sent the rumour mill spiralling over potential additions at St James' Park in the summer, with the likes of Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney and Barcelona pair Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele among those linked with a move to Newcastle.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Sky Sports reporter Downie has backed Howe to make several signings in the transfer window.

Downie told FFC: "It was interesting at his press conference today [Wednesday], he was actually asked if he's ever been to Champions League match before and he was racking his brains and couldn't even think of one.

"But he's the sort of guy that is so meticulous in everything he does, he works around the clock to ensure that he is the best that he can be. You know that he will do everything in his power to be a success in the Champions League.

"Only time will tell, Newcastle will have to go into that with very little experience in the first team squad and obviously, with the manager, no experience whatsoever and as it stands a very small squad, they're going to have to bring in a raft of players in the summer to, I think, make them competitive on both fronts."

How far can Newcastle United go under Eddie Howe?

Howe isn't someone known for setting defined expectations and will prepare his side game by game rather than looking too far ahead to the future; however, it has to be said, the sky is the limit for Newcastle when you consider their talented squad and financial capability.

Not only have they given themselves an excellent chance of Champions League qualification this term, but they also reached the Carabao Cup final in 2022/23, which was their first cup final in any major competition since 1999.

Looking ahead, expecting Newcastle to be title challengers in the near future may be a stretch, though if they can regularly compete for continental qualification and try and win some silverware then they could really start to establish themselves among the elite of English football.

Either way, it's an exciting time for anyone to be a Toon fan right now and Howe will duly receive plaudits for the magnificent job he's done at St James' Park.

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to offer a new contract to Eric Dier has been criticised by talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor, in a recent interview with Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?

According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham have opened talks with Dier about a new contract, and the club are keen to finalise a new three-year deal with the defender soon, regardless of who they appoint as their new manager.

Not only are Spurs keen to tie Dier down to a new deal, they are determined to sign Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet on a permanent basis, and negotiations have already begun, with the Spanish club keen to hold out for €15m (£13.3m).

The Lilywhites have also been linked to Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, with reports indicating they are one of the front-runners for the centre-back's signature, and Agbonlahor believes he would be a very good addition to the squad.

However, in an interview with Football Insider, the pundit is very critical of the decision to offer Dier a new deal, while he also indicates Lenglet should not be signed permanently, saying:

“Eric Dier, I don’t understand why there are talks over a new contract for him.

“Romero is the sort of player who would be on his last chance with me if I was manager. He just wants to kick everyone. He knows he’s going to get sent off, but still does it.

“I think Spurs need three centre-backs.

“Guehi can be one of them, but I’d go out and get more. Lenglet and Ben Davies are not good enough either.

Should Eric Dier be offered a new deal?

Tottenham have a very poor defensive record this season, so it is very surprising they are so eager to keep hold of their current options at centre-back, with Dier "nowhere near the required level", according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

While the decision to offer the £85k-per-week defender fresh terms is unusual, it is even more alarming Spurs are willing to bring Lenglet to the club on a permanent basis, given that he is one of the club's worst-performing players, according to Sofascore.

Even Cristian Romero has been criticised in recent weeks, so it is evident the Lilywhites will need to bolster their defensive options in the summer, with Guehi emerging as a solid potential option.

At 22-year-old, the Palace defender is at the right age to be a long-term success with Tottenham, and he has been hailed as "genuinely exceptional" by members of the media.

Journalist Paul Brown has admitted he would be stunned to see Everton make a move for their former midfielder James Rodriguez over the coming months.

Could Everton resign Rodriguez?

It has been a difficult campaign for the Toffees who continue to fight relegation for the second season running with just a handful of games remaining in their season.

Victory on Monday against Brighton & Hove Albion has provided Sean Dyche's men with some breathing room going into their game on the weekend against Manchester City.

However, results elsewhere could potentially see them fall back into the bottom three as they look to take more points off the side top of the league.

Looking ahead to the summer, there have been reports suggesting the Blues have been one of the sides to get in touch with the representatives of the Colombian playmaker.

They are not believed to be the only side from the Premier League with Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brighton all credited with an interest.

Having heard the reports surrounding the 31-year-old free agent, Brown shared his concerns over a potential deal as he spoke to Football FanCast:

"I'd be absolutely amazed if James Rodriguez ever returned to Everton partly because his time there ended in quite a lot of acrimony. And he spoke out several times about what he felt was unfair treatment and the club briefed several times against him as well.

"He's also a couple of years removed from a season when, okay, he played and he was mostly brilliant, but his body just could not cope with the demands of a full Premier League season."

Should Everton give Rodriguez another chance?

If Everton are able to survive, it is certainly an option which could come under consideration given the pedigree the Colombian has from his previous clubs.

However, there are an awful lot of potential negatives surrounding this possible deal which could cause the Toffees some issues.

The first one being the salary of the 31-year-old who will have free rein over who his next club is as he is currently without a club.

With no transfer fee involved, it means the potential suitors could be forced into stumping up a higher salary than what they may have wanted to pay initially.

There are two possible concerns over this at Everton. The first one being the obvious in that they are struggling financially.

However, perhaps just as concerning could be the message it could send to the other players at Everton if he was to return and earn considerably high wages.

Although his statistics would suggest he could potentially provide Everton with some much-needed quality, his time on Merseyside did not end well after his stay was cut short.

And all of this does not even touch upon whether Dyche would be open to the possibility of the Colombian playing for his side.

A lot has gone on at Everton over the last two years. Stability is needed at the club and would bringing back Rodriguez contribute towards that?

Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has been reacting to a Leeds United update involving Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

What’s the latest on Leeds and Postecoglou?

The Whites currently have Sam Allardyce in as interim manager until the end of the season, looking to remain in the Premier League. However, the club already appear to have eyes on a new long-term manager, with recent reports suggesting that Leeds are monitoring Postecoglou.

The 57-year-old was linked with a move to Yorkshire back in February and Leeds have continuously shown an interest in the Australian ahead of the summer.

Talking to Football Insider regarding the update, Agbonlahor, who contributes for Sky Sports, said that it would be “a very good appointment” and a “great addition” by Leeds, however, he feels as if the Hoops boss will stay put with the Scottish giants et for Champions League football next season.

“I think he’d be a very good appointment if they stay up. Leeds have to get the right man if they manage to stay in the Premier League. It’s been a clown show at Leeds.

“I don’t think he’ll leave yet – and not to Leeds, either. They’re not the most attractive job, and not one you would leave Celtic for.”

Unlikely for Leeds?

Leeds find themselves in the bottom three with two games remaining, and if they are relegated to the Championship, you’d expect that there is no chance of landing Postecoglou, who has also been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham this season.

Even if they remain in the top flight, luring the manager to Yorkshire could also prove tricky, especially as Celtic will be playing in the Champions League next season as Agbonlahor mentions.

You can see why the Whites would want to target someone like Postecoglou, though, with the Australian, lauded as "incredible" in the media, transforming things at Celtic Park by winning back-to-back league titles.

However, as Agbonlahor claims, it may not be an attractive proposition to leave Celtic for Leeds over the coming months.

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified a potential midfield target ahead of the summer transfer window, amid reports that the Lilywhites are interested in Marseille maestro, Matteo Guendouzi.

What's the latest on Guendouzi to Spurs?

That's according to journalist Mohamed Toubache, with the transfer insider revealing that the former Arsenal man is admired by the Spurs hierarchy, following his standout form in Ligue 1.

Writing on Twitter, Toubache claimed that both Newcastle United and Aston Villa also hold an interest in the 24-year-old, with the Frenchman's current side set to demand a fee of around €32m (£28m).

The 6 foot 1 ace has spent the last two seasons at the Stade Velodrome, joining on a permanent deal last summer on a £9m deal following an initial loan move.

How would Guendouzi fit in at Spurs?

With Rodrigo Bentancur having been plagued by injury this season, the north London outfit have largely relied on the midfield pairing of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp of late, albeit with mixed results.

As talkSPORT pundit Perry Groves recently stated, that duo are "like a double appendix" as they "don't do anything", with Skipp, in particular, having rather underwhelmed with just one goal and no assists in 29 games across all fronts this term.

The signing of Guendouzi could well represent something of an upgrade on the young Englishman for chairman Daniel Levy, as the Marseille ace has contributed ten goal involvements this season in 41 outings, after previously registering five goals and 14 assists in 56 games in the previous campaign.

The one-time Hertha Berlin loanee's superior creative quality is showcased by the fact that he has created five big chances in Ligue 1 this season and averaged 0.6 key passes per game, while Skipp, by contrast, has created zero big chances and only averaged 0.4 key passes per game.

Equally, Guendouzi – who has previously been hailed as a "warrior" by BBC pundit Alan Shearer – is also said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan, according to FBref, with that a further indication of his talent.

The likeness between the two midfielders – who can both operate in a defensive berth or a more advanced role – is showcased by their forward-thinking approach, as Guendouzi averages 6.89 progressive passes and 2.26 progressive carries per 90 over the last 365 days, while Gundogan averages 6.71 and 2.12 for the same two metrics, respectively.

The pair also possess a real willingness to get forward as the City ace ranks in the top 4% among his European peers for touches in the attacking penalty area, while his counterpart ranks in the top 18% in that regard – a far superior record to that of the more pragmatic Skipp (bottom 16%).

To be likened to Gundogan is of particular interest due to the German's stellar recent form for Pep Guardiola's side after scoring four goals in his last two Premier League games, subsequently being hailed as "one of the best in the league" by legendary midfielder, Patrick Vieira.

For all the potential concern about snapping up a man with Arsenal connections in the form of Guendouzi, the highly-coveted star's similarity to Gundogan could suggest that he can be a real figurehead for Spurs if he was to return to England this summer.

Amid Levy's focus on finding a new permanent manager, securing a deal for the former Lorient ace could well be a real surprise masterstroke.

Leeds United have failed to keep their battle against Premier League relegation in their hands after suffering a 3-1 defeat against West Ham United at the London Stadium this afternoon.

The Whites will need to take nothing less than three points from their final fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road next weekend, and even so, if Everton secure a victory at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, it won't be enough to save them.

Leeds struggled to deliver on their visit to East London with just 41% possession and fewer shots on target (3 v 9), which was a testament to yet another uninspiring performance from the side.

In the first half, the fight for survival looked very much back on for the west Yorkshire club when Rodrigo found the back of the net in the 17th minute, however, from that moment on it turned into a nightmare.

The Hammers had no trouble getting back into the game, with the defensive quality of Leeds getting worse as the game went on with Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini all taking advantage to snatch all three points.

Indeed, it would be unfair to pinpoint the blame on just one individual for increasing the chances of relegation, but Luke Ayling's inability to retain possession or even just accurately pass the ball certainly contributed to the huge pressure Leeds now face.

How did Luke Ayling get on vs West Ham United?

The right-back has been on the entire journey with Leeds from Championship strugglers to the Premier League promotion highs, but his more recent performances this season have dampened his legacy at the club.

The Elland Road faithful are loyal to their team but would expect a player who has been with them on the rollercoaster ride that has been the last few years to put up a fight when needed most.

The £20k-per-week liability – who has been slammed for his lazy "ball-watching" by Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchliffe this season – lost possession of the ball 20 times, misplaced all eight of his crosses and completed just 67% of his passes in a dismal display with the ball at his feet.

Furthermore, the defender lost 100% of his aerial duels and didn't make a single interception on a torrid afternoon.

The experienced full-back unsurprisingly picked up a terrible 4/10 match rating from Leeds Live's Beren Cross, who said of his display: "He left the team exposed down his flank when they were countered on."

It is clear that no matter what happens when Leeds' fate is sealed next weekend, there needs to be big changes in the squad personnel and adding quality in key areas of the pitch will be absolutely imperative to improve their performances.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see whether Sam Allardyce makes some much-needed tweaks to his team on the final day of the campaign, but either way, Leeds will now have to hope other teams can do them favours in their pursuit of safety.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Mikel Arteta shouldn't start with the same back four this weekend as he did last time out in the Premier League with Arsenal.

How will Arsenal line up against Wolves?

It's the final match of the season for Gunners as they host Wolves at the Emirates knowing they will finish second in the division whatever the final score.

Their fate was sealed last weekend when they played away at Nottingham Forest, losing 1-0 and thus allowing Manchester City to win the division.

In that game, Arteta opted for an unusual line-up as he played Jakub Kiwior at left-back and Thomas Partey at right-back and moved Ben White into the middle of defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes – an entirely new back four for Arsenal.

After that plan failed, Watts has warned that it would not go down well with the home fans if the Spaniard was to try and persist with his defensive experiment against Wolves.

Indeed, speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist explained (12:24): "I'm definitely not expecting us to see the same back four that we saw at Nottingham Forest.

"I'd be really surprised if Mikel Arteta tries that again, especially at home where I don't think it would go down very well indeed.

"So I'm expecting Kieran Tierney to come back in at left-back. And I think Ben White will go back to right-back. I'd be very surprised if he doesn't."

What's the latest Arsenal injury news?

With William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu both out injured, as well as Oleksandr Zinchenko, it's not hard to see why Arteta tried to mix things up recently.

But he should have Tierney available to come in as a more natural left-back against Wolves, which can then allow Kiwior to move centrally and White to go at right-back – which is how the team finished during their last Premier League win away at Newcastle.

With that in mind, it makes more sense to revert to that, though he could also bring in Rob Holding at centre-back potentially ahead of Kiwior – as it might be his last game at the Emirates amid some exit rumours.

However, there are issues further up the field to contend with too.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said (via football.london): "We had some issues this week. In the last few weeks some players were unable to play.

"With Reiss (Nelson), we had a little with Bukayo (Saka) which has been going for a few weeks and with Leo (Leandro Trossard)."

So it sounds like he may be forced to get creative with some tactical decisions but has the opportunity to at least play a more traditional back four this time around.

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has stunned fans by scoring a brilliant goal after just 13 seconds before then scoring another volley in the second half.

What is the quickest-ever FA Cup final goal?

Meeting at Wembley in the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola and co faced bitter rivals Manchester United with both aiming for a double.

Indeed, City have already won the Premier League and also have a Champions League final to come.

The Red Devils, on the other hand, have already lifted silverware at Wembley this season after beating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final.

With so much on the line, both teams would have been raring to go but all of Erik ten Hag’s pre-game plans would have had to have been reassessed after just a matter of seconds.

Indeed, after a long ball upfield was nodded to the edge of his own box by Victor Lindelof, Gundogan volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

Incredibly, this moment of magic was the fastest goal in an FA Cup final. What’s more, it’s the first scored in the opening minute of the competition final since Louis Saha netted for Everton against Chelsea in 2009.

Supporters were blown away by Gundogan’s quality – as he netted another fine volley after United had equalised – and here are the best reactions on Twitter…

Supporters just couldn’t believe it.

Here’s his second goal.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount ahead of an expected move to Old Trafford.

What’s the latest on Man United and Mount?

The Red Devils appear to be making a start on their summer business despite a FA Cup final looming for Erik ten Hag’s side. An ongoing takeover saga doesn’t appear to be impacting the club’s plans for potential additions, with Mount appearing to be a firm target over the coming months.

United are thought to be “really pushing behind the scenes” for Mount, with Ten Hag personally wanting the player brought in. A deal was reportedly “advancing” and it looks as if it has taken another positive step.

According to The Telegraph, there has been a breakthrough with the Red Devils and Mount reaching an agreement on personal terms, with the England international now “expected” to make the move to Manchester.

Chelsea appear to be readying a squad overhaul under Mauricio Pochettino, with Mateo Kovacic edging towards the other side of Manchester with a move to Manchester City.

Who is Mason Mount?

Mount is now 24 years of age and is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play in a deeper role or out on the left. Valued at €65m by Transfermarkt, he will soon be into the last 12 months of his deal and may not reach 200 appearances for the Blues.

Dubbed a "mad player" by Rio Ferdinand, Mount has turned out on 195 occasions for Chelsea after progressing through the academy, scoring 33 goals and registering 37 assists. Mount has also spent time out on loan in the Championship with Derby County and even in the Netherlands with Vitesee Arnhem.

Should he move to Manchester as expected, you’d expect that the player will provide competition to Bruno Fernandes, who is the only senior attacking midfielder available to Ten Hag.

The Portugal international has featured heavily in all competitions during the current campaign, and with United back in the Champions League next season, squad depth could be key. Mount is a Champions League winner with Chelsea and has experience at the highest level, so could prove to be a welcome addition, but the two clubs will now need to agree on a fee.

It seems as if a transfer will be one to keep an eye on, however, Ten Hag’s current focus will be on lifting a second domestic cup trophy at Wembley to cap off a fine first season in charge.

All the transfer speculation surrounding Wolverhampton Wanderers at the moment seems focused around those who could be on their way out rather than those arriving.

Joao Moutinho is moving on following the expiration of his contract, while Adama Traore has been tipped to depart and speculation surrounding Raul Jimenez refuses to go away.

On the back of a frustrating couple of years for the Mexico international following a long-term head injury lay-off, it has been reported he is weighing up a big-money offer on the table from Saudi Arabia.

Rather than seeing that as a blow, however, it could well prove to be a transitional moment should the club bring in an exciting replacement.

The Express & Star recently reported that Wolves remain interested in signing talented young Chile international Dario Osorio, who would very much fit into the category of an exciting signing to plug the gap left by Jimenez.

Who is Wolves target Dario Osorio?

Osorio only made his senior bow for Universidad de Chile in April last year, but he has certainly caught the eye across his 44 appearances for the club.

Indeed, aged just 19, the teenager has already earned a couple of caps for Chile's senior side and has been linked with Serie A quartet Udinese, Bologna, Sassuolo and Atalanta.

The youngster scored seven goals in 27 league appearances last season and, while he has yet to find the net in nine outings this campaign, he remains hot on the lips of transfer experts.

ESPN reporter Luis Miguel Echegaray has described Osorio as a 'quality prospect' and one of the 'brightest' players to emerge from Chile, a nation that has produced the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal in recent times.

Osorio is said to be 'fast, brave and a headache for defenders', which would make him a great fit for Julen Lopetegui at Wolves.

As well as attracting interest from Italy, ex-Universidad de Chile ace Johnny Herrera (as quoted by Bolavip), claimed last year that West Ham had made a £5.5m offer for the Chilean, with Leicester City also making a formal approach.

Osorio will need to improve his scoring output, which can come more naturally with age and experience, but he has already showed plenty of potential and is also not afraid to put himself about, as shown by the eight yellow cards he has collected in his short career to date.

The "flamboyant" youngster – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has also won 2.68 tackles per 90 minutes this year, as per FBbref, compared to 0.64 for Jimenez, who often appears to lack the fight for a battle.

Osorio – who has also been labelled the "jewel of Chilean soccer" by former boss Raul Torro – is not necessarily ready to be thrown straight into the first team, but with a valuation of a reported £6.7m, he is a smart option for Wolves and will offer something different to Jimenez, who has simply – rather unfortunately – failed to reach his previous heights since returning to action.

Jimenez has scored just six goals across 39 appearances in the past two Premier League campaigns – a far cry from his peak in 2019-20 when scoring 17 goals in 38 games.

On wages of £100,000 a week, according to Capology, and with his valuation diminishing, it now makes sense to turn a new page without Jimenez in the squad.