Newcastle United are on the verge of securing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa in a £40 million transfer, edging out competition from West Ham for the versatile 24-year-old midfielder. With negotiations between the clubs reportedly advanced, personal terms are expected to be straightforward, raising the possibility that Ramsey could feature in Newcastle’s squad for their Premier League opener at Villa Park this Saturday.
Ramsey’s versatility across midfield makes him an attractive option for manager Eddie Howe, who is looking to fill the gap left by Sean Longstaff’s £15 million move to Leeds while also preparing for Newcastle’s debut season in the Champions League. The midfielder, who often came off the bench for Villa, has accumulated 17 goals in 167 appearances and started roughly half of last season’s matches. Having debuted in 2019, Ramsey has long been admired by Howe, who sees him as a player capable of adding both creativity and goals to the squad.
Newcastle have also strengthened defensively with the £35 million signing of German centre-back Malick Thiaw from AC Milan. Meanwhile, the club remains in the market for additional forwards. Alexander Isak, the Swedish striker, has expressed a desire to join Liverpool and has been training separately from the main squad. Newcastle’s pursuit of Yoane Wissa from Brentford continues, with a £25 million offer rejected and Brentford demanding £40 million for the 29-year-old forward.
With Isak unavailable for the upcoming clash against Villa, Howe is expected to deploy England winger Anthony Gordon in an uncustomary centre-forward role. This temporary measure will likely remain in place until Newcastle finalize at least one new striking option. Once a forward signing is completed, Liverpool are anticipated to submit an improved bid for Isak, following a previously rejected £110 million offer.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Bournemouth have bolstered their defence with the signing of centre-back Bafodé Diakité from Lille. Diakité joins shortly after Bournemouth sold Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain, reflecting continued squad restructuring across top-flight clubs ahead of the new season.
With Ramsey’s arrival, Newcastle look set to enter the new season with increased depth in midfield and the flexibility to adapt their line-up as they compete on multiple fronts, including their maiden Champions League campaign. The transfer represents a major statement of intent from the club and could prove crucial in Howe’s efforts to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.
