Manchester City’s Bold Move for Livramento Highlights Strategic Defensive ShiftManchester City have made a firm statement of intent with a renewed and significantly strengthened bid for Newcastle

Now, the same publication claims Newcastle did have a £27m bid accepted this week, which prompted Man City to exercise their matching rights. And to add a final plot twist to this long transfer saga, the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope claims Pep Guardiola’s side matched the bid just ONE HOUR before the deadline.

Newcastle United has struggled to land its top targets this summer and could now lose Alexander Isak to a Premier League rival.

However, it was Arsenal's 15-year-old academy products, midfielder Max Downman and centre-back Marli Salmon, who also impressed with their cameos and were the main subject of Arteta's post-match press conference, with the mood surrounding the club fairly postive.

An intriguing swap deal has been suggested between Brentford and Newcastle United, in order to help get the Yoane Wissa move to St James’ Park over the line. On Tuesday, it was reported that Newcastle had seen a £25m offer turned down for the Brentford striker.

Wissa had been linked to Tottenham in a deal worth £40m, but it sounds as though a move to Tyneside could now be on the cards instead. “Yoane Wissa too. I’ve had a lot of confidence on this deal externally for a long time now. I was the first one to break news of the interest a few weeks ago in my Newcastle confidential column,” Hope said.

Over the past few years, Newcastle United have steadily built up their reputation in the Premier League. From being a mid-table side, they are now competing regularly for a spot in the top four.

Newcastle United face Arsenal at the Singapore National Stadium tomorrow and both Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta have a number of injury concerns to deal with.