Man City £70m bid looks to kill Newcastle United link with Bruno Guimaraes’ talented best friend

It's just three days until Premier League football returns to Tyneside and Newcastle United take on Aston Villa in a jam-packed St James' Park.

Magpies fans will be hoping to see new signings Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento in the squad after a busy summer shopping spree, but the club might not be done spending yet.

Here is your Wednesday evening transfer round-up.

Newcastle United confident, but not desperate, for Crystal Palace defender

Newcastle United are 'confident' that Crystal Palace will lower their £40 million asking price for centre-back Joachim Andersen.

Eddie Howe now has a wealth of midfield and forward options after a busy summer transfer window but still hasn't landed his back-up centre-back as the Premier League season moves ever closer.

FootballTransfers report that should The Eagles land Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou, then a deal for Andersen would be more likely to be made at a price lower than the initial £40 million valuation. However, should Crystal Palace refuse to move on that price, it's expected that Newcastle United will take their business elsewhere.

Man City ready to spend big on former Newcastle United target

West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is a name that will be familiar to Newcastle United fans after heavy links with the star over the last 18 months.

St James' Park seemed a likely destination for the Brazilian last summer before he put pen to paper on a deal at the London Stadium on a £36.5 million move. Paqueta had been seen visiting Newcastle before choosing West Ham and is known to be close friends with former Lyon teammate turned Magpie, and compatriot, Bruno Guimaraes.

Links between Newcastle United and Paqueta didn't stop this summer either with Spanish outlet Fichajes reporting that Eddie Howe was prepared to fork out £63 million for the star before concluding deals with Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes.

Now, it appears that Manchester City are interested in Paqueta's services and the BBC report that an initial approach had been made to the London club.

West Ham do not want to sell the player having already lost key man Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer, and the midfielder still has another four years on his contract - although a rumoured £70 million bid may make the club think twice.