Morgan Gibbs-White appears to be locked into Nottingham Forest for the long haul after signing a contract making him the highest paid player in their history.
talkSPORT can reveal the bumper £150,000-a-week deal, matching what suitors Tottenham were prepared to pay, does NOT include a release clause.
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That means Forest can demand top dollar from clubs wanting to prise their talisman away from the City Ground in the near future.
Gibbs-White looked set to quit Forest after Spurs indicated they were prepared to trigger his £60m release clause.
The England international made a shock U-turn by penning a new three-year deal during the club’s pre-season training camp in Portugal after owner Evangelos Marinakis forcibly blocked the move.
Man United and Newcastle eye No.1 targets
Nick Pope could emerge as a target for Manchester United if Newcastle sign Aaron Ramsdale.
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The Magpies are pushing to reunite Ramsdale with his former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, although Southampton are demanding a big loan fee.
With Ramsdale targeting a Premier League number one role to help his chances of being named in the England squad for next summer’s World Cup, his arrival would leave Pope’s position vulnerable.
The 33-year-old is out of contract next summer and Pope fits the profile of the type of player United are looking for to challenge Andre Onana.
Leeds showed interest in Pope earlier this summer, but have since signed Lucas Perri from Lyon.
Isak staying out of the spotlight
Alexander Isak has been conspicuous by his absence from Newcastle’s training ground since dropping the bombshell he is seeking to leave the club.
Doubts over Isak’s future first emerged when he was spotted training alone before subsequently being left out of their pre-season tour to Singapore with a ‘thigh injury’.
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Isak has not been spotted by film crews outside the club’s Darsley Park training complex since.
It is thought the superstar Swede is following his only training programme at home while Newcastle decide whether to cash in.
Liverpool are willing to pay a British record fee for Isak, who as exclusively revealed in this notebook last week is asking for £300,000-a-week to sign a new deal with Newcastle.
The Isak saga compounds what has been a nightmare summer for the Magpies having missed out on a host of targets including Bryan Mbuemo, Hugo Ekitike and James Trafford.
West Ham are open to offers for Lucas Paqueta following his betting ban escape.
Samba star on his way out of West Ham?
talkSPORT understands Paqueta is in the clear over allegations of spot-fixing, although that decision has yet to be officially announced by either the FA or the Hammers.
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Flamengo in Paqeuta’s homeland of Brazil are among the mercurial midfielder’s potential suitors.
Paqueta was also close to joining Manchester City before the betting accusations first came to light.
West Ham believe the 27-year-old is worth at least £60m.
