Paper Talk: Breakthrough for Newcastle as triple deal nears, but Saint-Maximin fears emerge; Tottenham to hijack Villa swoop

Newcastle are closing on the signing of Bruno Guimaraes, as well as two more before the window shuts, Tottenham are planning to hijack Aston Villa’s big move, while Saturday’s transfer gossip reveals more Arsenal issues for a striker signing.

Newcastle are growing increasingly hopeful of striking deals to sign both Dan Burn and Eddie Nketiah before the transfer window closes.

Despite the captures of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, it has been a largely frustrating window for Newcastle.

Indeed, efforts to sign a plethora of names have ultimately been met with rejection.

However, they look likely to end the window with a real flourish as three deals move closer to completion.

The first of these will be Lyon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

The Magpies have agreed to pay a huge £40m fee to lure the player from France. That includes £333m up front and then £6.5m in add-ons. And with a medical going through without a hitch in Brazil, the signing is now close.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said on Friday they are moving closer to making their third signing of the window. Furthermore, he hopes Guimaraes will be followed up with more business.

“We are hopeful of getting closer to completing a transfer for a player,” said Howe, speaking in Saudi Arabia at a news conference held via Zoom.

“From my perspective, I don’t imagine that would be the end. Whether that turns into reality, who knows.

“Things change very late in this window as everybody knows, it can be quite unpredictable in the last couple of days, with lots of things maybe happening that we didn’t expect.”

The arrival of Guimaraes at St James’ Park will likely be followed by Dan Burn and Eddie Nketiah.

As per The Guardian, Newcastle will raise their bid for Burn, having