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West Ham beating Newcastle in transfer battle - as Yankuba Minteh talks continue
WEST HAM have moved ahead of Newcastle United in the battle for Max Kilman after holding a fresh round of talks with Wolves officials over the centre-half.
Newcastle made a formal approach for Kilman over the weekend, but an initial discussion over the 27-year-old failed to result in an agreement.
It has been suggested that the Magpies proposed a cash-plus-player arrangement that would have seen midfielder Elliot Anderson move to Molineux, but talks ended without a deal being agreed.
West Ham are understood to have had two offers of their own rejected for Kilman, who has made more than 150 senior appearances since joining Wolves in 2018, but they were also rejected.
However, further talks have now taken place between the West Ham hierarchy and their counterparts at Molineux, and there is an expectation that a third formal bid will be tabled shortly.
Sources claim West Ham are growing increasingly confident of being able to sign Kilman, which would mean Newcastle missing out on a second central-defensive target after Tosin Adarabioyo turned down the opportunity to move to St James’ Park in order to join Chelsea.
Newcastle have completed one defensive signing this summer, with Lloyd Kelly having signed as a free agent following his departure from Bournemouth.
Newcastle’s attempts to sell Yankuba Minteh ahead of Sunday’s PRS accountancy deadline remain ongoing, with French club Lyon still regarded as the favourites to sign the teenager winger, who is valued at around £40m.
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Roma and Borussia Dortmund have also held discussions with Newcastle officials, but Everton ended their interest in the Gambia international when the Magpies called off their own pursuit of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Newcastle have identified Minteh as the player that should be easiest to move on before the end of the month, having ruled out immediate moves for Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron instead.
Almiron, who was the subject of an unsuccessful January transfer offer from Saudi Arabian Pro League side Al-Shabab, is one of the players who could leave later in the summer, although the Paraguayan insists he is happy and settled on Tyneside.
Almiron is currently in the United States representing his nation in the Copa America, and he played for the opening 59 minutes late on Monday night as Paraguay suffered a 2-1 defeat to Colombia in their opening group game.
Speaking before that match, the 30-year-old was asked about the mounting speculation that he could leave Newcastle this summer.
He said: “When we play (at St James’ Park), it feels like playing in your own backyard. The city is like that too. They are very friendly people.
“I saw that from the beginning. When I arrived, we had tough times, but still people came and asked for autographs and supported you. I had never experienced that until I came here (to Newcastle).
“Now, we have the Copa America, which for me is going to be very important. Not only for me, but for my team-mates as well, and I think we are going to do well.
“As I always say, I am very grateful to the (Newcastle) fans for the affection they showed me from the beginning. I feel blessed.”
Almiron’s team-mate, Bruno Guimaraes, has also been in action at the Copa America, and he was also left disappointed after his side’s first group game.
Guimaraes played the full 90 minutes as Brazil were held to a goalless draw by Costa Rica in Los Angeles.
Brazil had 74 per cent of possession and 19 shots, but Guimaraes wasted one of their best opportunities when he fired over in the dying seconds.
