Newcastle United staff were spotted chatting to West Ham United star Declan Rice after Saturday’s clash between the two teams.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Newcastle coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones both went to speak to Rice at full time.
Jones knows Rice from the England national team setup, so it may have just been a case of the pair renewing pleasantries.
Yet the report claims that the conversation ‘looked like a charm offensive’ with Newcastle in the market for a midfielder.
The Magpies are expected to land a new midfield maestro this summer to support the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
Rice could fit the bill perfectly for Newcastle, who may well have the money to throw at West Ham this summer.
Could Newcastle seriously rival Arsenal for Declan Rice?
The Magpies should have a hefty transfer budget for this summer and that’s before even factoring in the possibility of Champions League qualification.
Newcastle have a great shot at finishing in the top four and that would make them even more appealing in the transfer market.
Rice has outlined his ambitions of playing in the Champions League and Newcastle may be able to offer that pathway.
Location could be a problem; Rice is a London boy and he is likely to have an option to stay in the capital.
The Telegraph claim that Rice is Arsenal’s top summer target, whilst the London Evening Standard even suggest that Arsenal are already working on a deal.
Rice appears to be Arsenal’s top target for the summer and a move to the Emirates Stadium could be of interest to the midfielder.
That would be difficult for Newcastle to compete with, but the Magpies did manage to win the race for Bruno Guimaraes.
Nothing is impossible for Newcastle and whilst that conversation with Rice may have been completely innocent, you couldn’t blame the Magpies for trying their luck.
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