Newcastle United ‘keeping tabs’ on key Chelsea transfer target as January bid is considered

The January transfer window may still be months away - but Newcastle United’s recruitment team remain hard at work assessing players at home and abroad.

The Magpies are believed to have been represented in fixtures in Italy, Portugal and France since the summer window closed earlier this month.

A watching brief is being maintained on several possible targets and one report has suggested United could revisit their interest in one key player shining in Holland.

Mexican international Edson Alvarez was said to be a target for the Magpies and Premier League rivals Chelsea during the summer and The Athletic have reported United are ‘keeping tabs’ on the midfielder’s progression.

Alvarez has three years remaining on his current deal with the Eredivisie giants and would command a significant fee should he be persuaded to move to the Premier League.

The 24-year-old was said to be frustrated by Ajax’s decision to reject a £43million offer from Chelsea last month - but has impressed manager Alfred Schreuder with his reaction in recent weeks.

Prior to a 4-0 win against SC Cambuur earlier this month, he told ESPN: “I want to explain it because I think it’s important.

“One day he had a very hard time with it (the Chelsea bid) and we also talked about it. So I thought it was better that he didn’t train.

“And yesterday he just said to me: ‘Trainer , I am going for the full one hundred percent again.’ That is how it should be, then it will be discussed.

“If you want to play at a big club, you also have to communicate things clearly at the front. You don’t have eleven players who just play, you have to rotate. You also have to explain that openly and honestly to them and it is up to them to accept.”

The likes of Manchester United and AC Milan have also been linked with a move for Alvarez in recent weeks.