According to Alan Nixon of The Sun, Newcastle are planning a bid for James McCarthy. The £50k-per-week midfielder is expected to leave Everton this summer after falling down the pecking order and could be open to joining another Premier League side.
Newcastle are strapped for cash and want to sign McCarthy for £5m. Given Everton recently rejected £8m from Crystal Palace and requested £10m, however, the Toon Arm’s approach is unlikely to be successful. The 28-year-old looks destined for a summer departure, but it won’t be for a cut-price fee.
McCarthy’s hopes of first-team football at Everton are slim following the permanent arrivals of Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph. The Republic of Ireland international finds himself behind Morgan Schneiderlin, Tom Davies and Idrissa Gueye under Marco Silva, which is too much competition for playing time.
Since joining from Wigan Athletic in 2013, McCarthy has made 133 appearances in all competitions, scoring and creating 16 goals. The central midfielder has only racked up 370 minutes of football in the last two seasons, however, as injuries have taken their toll.
Palace and Newcastle are looking to capitalise on the situation this summer, but whether the pair will enter a bidding war for McCarthy’s signature remains to be seen.