Securing their first Champions League finish in two decades last season, have certainly embarked on a remarkable rise under Eddie Howe.

While the Magpies might be dealing with some public financial restraints this summer, the former Bournemouth boss saw his side make a major statement on intent earlier in the month as they announced the arrival of AC Milan superstar in a £55million deal.

With it all but confirmed that will be the next Premier League star heading out to Saudi Arabia, Newcastle are keen on adding reinforcements with top-flight experience.

With under six weeks until the summer transfer window officially slams shut, we have taken a look at three British stars that could be on their way to the north east.

Harvey Barnes Leicester

While Ne…

Ronald Koeman insisted Barcelona had other players who could step up and lead after Memphis Depay stood head and shoulders over the rest in Sunday s narrow win over Getafe.

Barcelona s 2-1 win in LaLiga came thanks to a second-minute strike from Sergi Roberto and a lovely run and finish from Netherlands forward Depay on the half-hour mark, the close-season arrival from Lyon already stamping his mark in Spain.

Between those goals, former Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez briefly drew Getafe level, and the team who have yet to pick up a point this season pushed the hosts hard in the second half at Camp Nou.

For all the praise Koeman showered on Barcelona after the game, his players managed just seven attempts on goal, and they have not had fewer in a LaLiga fix…

Best Odds: 7/10

Bookmaker:

Looking to mark their return to Championship duties with a flurry at Vicarage Road, Watford will host Hull on Sunday afternoon.

Watford

Starting with the hosts, while Watford might have marked their Championship return with a sluggish start to the 2022/23 campaign, it appears Slaven Bilic s new squad have put those issues behind them. Squeezing in a friendly showdown on December 3rd as they picked up a stunning 4-2 romp against Premier League leaders Arsenal, the former West Ham boss will be calling on his side to lay down a marker on Sunday afternoon. Looking to make up some ground in the top-two chase and with a Premier League return at the top of their agenda, the Hornets mark their return to action with just a single defeat from a…

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos anticipates plans for a European Super League will be revived, as he refuted claims of the Premier League s superiority.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has led calls for Europe s elite clubs to secede from UEFA competitions and was the driving force behind last year s proposed breakaway competition. 

While most of the Super League s slated participants withdrew following public and political pressure in April 2021, Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus have remained committed to the project.

In June, Perez branded UEFA s control over the continental game a monopoly and declared the Super League was still alive , and Kroos supports the president s plans. 

Speaking on the podcast OMR, Kroos said: Never contradict your …

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker:

Knowing that a victory on Saturday afternoon will be enough to clinch a first Bundesliga crown since 2012, Borussia Dortmund will welcome Mainz to Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund

Starting with the hosts, only continuing on what has been a record-breaking flurry, Borussia Dortmund know they’re just 90 minutes away from Bundesliga history. With one final victory on Saturday afternoon enough to secure a first domestic crown since 2012, Edin Terzic’s side have certainly gained a string of plaudits this year. Last seen putting in another stellar display as they cruised their way to a 3-0 romp away at Augsburg, the German giants hare now unbeaten in each of their last seven Bundesliga appearances a run that stems back to April 5th. …

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri said it gives him “great pride” to be compared with the likes of Roma counterpart Jose Mourinho.

The pair will lock horns on Saturday evening when Roma visit the Allianz Arena as Juve bid to keep the pressure on Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the title race.

Allegri told a press conference: “It always gives me great pleasure when I’m compared to the ‘old school’ coaches, together with Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Allegri: My wish for 2024? To feel good and continue to work while having fun.

That brings to a close today s presser

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

“Personally I believe there are a thousand variables in football, there is no absolute truth.

“Ancelotti is…

Market: Celtic win

Odds: 2/5 @

Hoping to extend their buffer at the top of the Premiership table, Celtic will travel to Easter Road on Wednesday night when they meet Hibernian.

Starting with the hosts, last seen over the weekend putting in a nightmare display as they slumped to a woeful 3-0 drumming at home against St. Mirren, Nick Montgomery’s side are enduring a major Premiership struggle. Battling it out in the bottom-half of the table, the Edinburgh-based outfit have come under some increasing scrutiny. Signing off 2023 with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Hearts, the former Central Coast Mariners boss has seen his downbeat squad fail to win any of their previous six Premiership appearances. With their extended crisis highlighted by a 3-0 defeat…

Jose Mourinho has declared he is 100 per cent Roma after their 1-0 Europa Conference League final triumph over Feyenoord on Wednesday.

Playing in their first continental showpiece since losing the 1991 UEFA Cup final, Nicolo Zaniolo scored the only goal for the Giallorossi, poking the ball home in the 32nd minute after chesting down Gianluca Mancini s ball over the top of the defence.

The victory in Tirana gave the Serie A club their first major European trophy.

In his first season at Roma, Mourinho has now emulated Giovanni Trapattoni s feat of winning a European trophy in three separate decades.

Despite famously leaving in the following off-season after winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter, the 59-year-old asserted he wants to stay an…

Tick-tock, tick-tock. It appears time will finally run out on Sunday and the Kylian Mbappe transfer saga will finally be at its end.

Paris Saint-Germain have experienced another monumental blow this season with another cruel elimination in the Champions League and Real Madrid are waiting in the wings.

According to reports, the 23-year-old will finally announce his decision on Sunday.

TOP STORY – MBAPPE TO CONFIRM DECISION ON SUNDAY  

Kylian Mbappe will announce whether he will play for Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid on Sunday, according to L Equipe.

The Parisian has never hidden his admiration for LeBron James and appears set to mimic his The Decision announcement from 2010.

What is for certain according to reports, Mbappe is inte…

New Zealand head coach Danny Hay has urged his players to seize the moment by producing an upset against Costa Rica to claim the last remaining World Cup finals spot.

The two sides face off at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday for the right to return to Qatar later this year and join Germany, Japan and Spain in Group E.

A total of 31 countries have qualified for the global showpiece following Australia s penalty shoot-out win against Peru on Monday, leaving one place up for grabs.

New Zealand enter the intercontinental play-off clash as underdogs as they sit 101st in the latest FIFA rankings, 70 places below their Central American opponents.

The All Whites cruised through the extended qualifying process, racking up 5-0 and 7-1 wins along the way, but now f…