Newcastle agree deal for Brighton’s Dan Burn to take spending past £80m

Newcastle have reached an agreement with Brighton to buy the centre-back Dan Burn for about £12.5m. The 29-year-old is due for medical on Sunday to take the club’s spending under their Saudi Arabian owners past £80m.

The purchases of Kieran Trippier (£12m) and Chris Wood (£25m) have been confirmed and an announcement is coming on Bruno Guimarães, a Brazil midfielder who will cost £33.3m, rising to a possible £40m with add-ons.

Newcastle had an £8m offer for Burn rejected last week but returned with a figure acceptable to Brighton after Eddie Howe made the 6ft 7in former Wigan and Fulham player a priority target. Burn, born in Blyth, Northumberland, grew up supporting Newcastle and has been keen on the move.

Howe will be relieved to have landed a centre-back after being frustrated in pursuit of Lille’s Sven Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos. The manager hopes to make further additions, notably at left-back and in attack, where Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah is high on his list.

Spending in the post-Mike Ashley era was expected to change dramatically and the profile of signings has altered appreciably too. Ashley favoured younger players with resale value but Newcastle, largely thinking short term amid a relegation battle, have so far bought or agreed deals for players aged 31 (Trippier), 30 (Wood) and 29 (Burn) as well as the 24-year-old Guimarães. Nketiah is 22.