Newcastle make a bid for Ferland Mendy

The Magpies are looking to add players to their roster during the January transfer window after a fantastic first half of the season propelled them into top-four contention. Ahead of their encounter against Arsenal on Tuesday, Eddie Howe's team is presently third in the Premier League standings, nine points behind league leaders Arsenal and just two points behind champions Manchester City.

Newcastle has reportedly identified Mendy as a potential target to strengthen their team as they seek to qualify for the Champions League for the upcoming season, according to the French Website Foot Mercato. According to the source, the North-East club has already made the France international, who has spent the previous three and a half years at the Bernabeu, a "very significant offer." However, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and a number of other undisclosed Premier League teams could challenge Newcastle for the left back position.

This season, Mendy has been Real Madrid's first-choice left-back, starting 17 of the 18 games in which he has played. Mendy's contract with Real Madrid doesn't expire until 2025, thus it's believed that the club is open to keeping him, but would also contemplate selling him if a compelling offer were to come in. Since moving to Madrid from Lyon in 2019, the 27-year-old has made a total of 123 appearances. He has helped the team win two La Liga championships and the Champions League trophy the previous season.

Real Madrid's Interest in Napoli Winger Has Ended

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a winger for Napoli, is no longer a target for Real Madrid, according to a recent report from Defensa Central. According to reports, Los Blancos have abandoned their effort to sign the Georgian phenomenon.

Anceloti does not want to sign Khvicha Kvaratkhelia

After turning up a string of game-winning performances on the left side of Napoli's attack, Kvaratskhelia is having a fantastic season in Italian football. The Tiflis-born player has made ten assists and scored eight goals in 17 games this season for the Naples team across all competitions. By averaging 4.4 shots, 1.2 critical passes, and 2.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the UEFA Champions League, the 21-year-old has attracted attention in Europe. However, as seen by his pass success percentage of 71.3% in European football, he has to improve his distribution of the ball deep inside the opponent's half. The summer of 2027 will mark the end of his current deal with the Naples club. Real Madrid would thus have struggled to negotiate a cheap transfer for him this month.

Kvaratskhelia is excellent at creating space for himself so he can get a couple strikes in. He has the skill to cut open the opposing defense with a decisive pass on the attacking end of the field and the long-range shooting ability to fire the ball with aggression and accuracy. Kvaratskhelia is primarily a left-sided wide player, but if his manager requests it, he can also play as a right-winger or in the number 10 position. The Georgian wide player has done well to contribute by scoring and setting up his fair share of goals in the final third. He can also finish some threatening dribbles on the left flank.

Kvaratskhelia would have been a great replacement for Eden Hazard, who has had a difficult time staying healthy throughout his time at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and would have offered plenty of goals and creativity to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti's assault. As long as Kvaratskhelia, 21, keeps enhancing his all-around game with each season, his future is promising. All things considered, it appears that Los Angeles erred in choosing to abandon the Georgian player this early in the January transfer window.

Newcastle’s deals in the winter transfer window and plan for the summer

Newcastle carried out the deal to improve their strength in chasing James Maddison and Joao Gomes in the winter transfer window as well as having a long-term transfer plan for the summer window.