Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton’s teenager star Tyler Dibling in 2025, and are monitoring the situation of James McAtee at Manchester City.
Dibling was close to joining in the summer of 2022 and met with club staff during a visit to Tyneside. He had earlier caught the eye of Eddie Howe and the recruitment team after scoring a hat-trick for Southampton Under 23s at St James’ Park when aged just 16.
Former sporting director Dan Ashworth was tasked with leading the chase, but Dibling eventually signed for Chelsea, only to return to the Saints within two months after failing to settle in London.
Sources have confirmed this week that the Magpies retain a strong interest and, with new sporting director Paul Mitchell having links to Southampton, we understand they are being keep abreast of his situation.
Dibling can play as a midfielder or out wide and, despite Southampton’s struggles, he has impressed during 12 league starts that have brought two goals this season. The 18-year-old’s contract expires in 2026 and the club have an option to extend by 12 months. Talks over a new deal have taken place without a breakthrough.
The England Under 21 ace is expected to remain on the South Coast this season but, come the summer, Newcastle would be in a strong position to compete for the signature of a player they rate extremely highly.
However, were Liverpool to firm up their interest in the player, we have been told they 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 which Howe and the club have targeted in recent seasons.
Newcastle are interested in signing Southampton’s teenage star Tyler Dibling this year
Newcastle could move for Dibling, 18, this summer, but may face competition from Liverpool
They are also monitoring the situation of Manchester City’s £25million star James McAtee
The 22-year-old, who has a price tag of £25million, has a host of clubs from home and abroad interested in signing him this month, with his first-team opportunities limited to just three substitute appearances in the Premier League this term.
For now, Newcastle’s focus is on outgoings and sources continue to insist that major incomings are unlikely in January. Were McAtee to stay at City, it is an interest that could be followed up in the summer.
MIGGY IN A MUDDLE
On the subject of sales, there is no guarantee Miguel Almiron will agree to a move away from Newcastle this month.
Mail Sport revealed this week that the club have received an offer in the region of £5m from a Brazilian top-flight team.
However, we understand Almiron would prefer to return to MLS, where he spent three years with Atlanta United before becoming Newcastle’s then-club-record signing for £21m in 2019, or stay in Europe.
The stumbling block is the financial expectation of the winger and his agent. It is also said he is not desperate to leave, despite making just one league start this season.
Charlotte FC retain the strongest interest in the Paraguayan, while Leicester asked about him in the summer and are again watching the situation. It all leaves Almiron’s future up in the air as of now.
Newcastle need to sell to buy this month – even then they could opt to delay incomings until the summer – and midfielder Sean Longstaff is also available for transfer.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will remain while he is in the team, but that situation could change at the end of January if Nick Pope returns with no complications from a knee injury. Dubravka’s representatives are thought to have agreed personal terms with Saudi club Al Shabab.
There is no guarantee Miguel Almiron will move on this month – despite interest from Brazil, he would prefer a return to the MLS
BOTMAN’S BACK AND TRIPPS IS FINE!
Sven Botman has declared himself fit for a return at Tottenham this weekend, while Kieran Trippier is fine after coming off at 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 feature after nine months out following a serious knee injury. It will be left to Eddie Howe to decide on his inclusion.
The Dutch centre back has overcome illness in recent days and, while a 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 among the substitutes at the very least in the next two matches.
Sources have indicated that Lloyd Kelly is most likely to deputise for Schar, with the in-form Dan Burn moving to right-sided centre half.
Meanwhile, Trippier came off just before the hour during the 2-0 win at Old Trafford with what looked like a leg issue at the time. However, the former England star is thought to be OK and was not injured.
Howe, though, could yet rotate him and fellow right back Tino Livramento for the two games in four days in North London.
Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman are fine to feature against Tottenham this weekend
NO LONDON LAYOVER
One small point of housekeeping – Newcastle will not stay in London between the Tottenham and Arsenal games.
Rather, they will return to Tyneside immediately after the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday before returning for Tuesday’s evening kick-off at the Emirates Stadium.
Confidential also understands that the first-team players involved in those games will be given a few days off after Arsenal in the build-up to the Bromley FA Cup tie, when a whole new XI could be fielded.
GEORDIE BOYS ON TOUR
Newcastle’s away end during the win at Old Trafford was boosted by a current and former Toon player.
Goalkeeper Mark Gillespie was joined by fellow Geordie Paul Dummett in cheering on the 2-0 victory. Dummett, who left the club in the summer, made the short journey from Wigan, for whom he signed on a short-term deal in November.
However, the 33-year-old is likely to be on the market again 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 victory over Manchester United, as did current goalkeeper Mark Gillespie
LOAN STARS
A Newcastle loanee scored past his Newcastle team-mate this week, when 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 teams in the Championship monitoring his situation.
His loan deal with the League Two club has a January break clause but, given his fine form of late, he could well decide he is best placed staying with The Dons until the end of the season.
Thompson, meanwhile, continues to gain experience between the posts and the highly regarded 20-year-old has started 14 times for Chesterfield this term.
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 observing training from the lofty vantage of a platform aboard some scaffolding.
The Newcastle boss never misses a kick of any session and even watches many of them back on video later in the day.
And in the search for the answers that have led to the team’s excellent turnaround in form, Howe climbing the ladder has coincided with Newcastle’s climb up the Premier League table.
Eddie Howe has taken to watching training from a raised platform – and it seems to be working if results on the pitch are any indication
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SOUR PAULO FOR LEWIS
The season-ending injury suffered by Jamal Lewis prompting his return from a loan stay at Sao Paulo will not have a huge impact on Newcastle’s PSR situation, because the club were paying the bulk of his wages anyway.
The defender underwent ankle surgery last month and he will continue his rehabilitation on Tyneside, ending his association with Sao Paulo earlier than anticipated.
And with his Newcastle contract up in the summer, Lewis will leave on a free transfer, five years after his £15m arrival from Norwich City. That has equated to more than £500,000 per start.
RIP MICHAEL NEWBERRY AND DAVID LAWS
There has been some very sad news on two fronts this week, following the passing of former Newcastle academy player Michael Newberry and ex referee and Newcastle Airport chief David Laws.
Newberry died on December 30, on his 27th birthday, and was currently playing for Cliftonville in Northern Ireland. He was born in Newcastle before joining the academy aged 11 and was later a winner of the prestigious ‘Wor Jackie’ prize that recognises the city’s best footballing talent. He played in the same age group as Sean Longstaff.
I never met or interviewed Michael but, like me, he played for Red House Farm boys club in Gosforth, and everyone connected to that club speaks so warmly of him.
David Laws, meanwhile, passed away this week aged 66. He was very well known in the region and was a popular and larger-than-life character.
He was a Football League referee for two decades and took charge of Rob Lee’s Newcastle testimonial match against Athletic Bilbao in 2001, before becoming chief executive of the airport in 2006.
RIP Michael and David.
TOON TEASER!
It’s Toon Teaser time. The last puzzler before Christmas was: can you name the SIXTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Ipswich since 1992? I have since been told that a couple of Newcastle’s players gave this one a try… So, if you’re reading lads, 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.
Given this is the second time Newcastle have played Tottenham this season, I can’t re-use the ‘played for both’ format. So, I’m going to pick random EFL clubs to continue the style of question, given its popularity this season.
Here goes… name the THIRTEEN players to have played for Newcastle and Coventry since 1992… I’d say at least 10 are very gettable, but a few of them are very tough! Good luck!
