Newcastle Circle Arsenal Over Martinelli As Munoz Deal Slips Away to Liverpool

Newcastle's summer plans took an unwelcome turn this week when Liverpool swooped in to snatch Victor Munoz from under their noses. The Magpies had been in advanced negotiations with the Osasuna winger, but while the two clubs bickered over fees, Liverpool simply activated his €40m release clause to wrap up the deal for the 22-year-old.

The hijack has forced Newcastle back to the drawing board, prompting the club to dust off a list of alternative targets. According to reports, conversations between Newcastle and Arsenal have already taken place regarding two of the Gunners' wide men: Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Trossard appears to have already moved on, with the Belgian firmly in advanced negotiations over a switch to Besiktas, effectively ruling him out of Newcastle's equation. That leaves Martinelli as the more viable proposition—and crucially, the one the Newcastle hierarchy believe could prove cheaper than Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, the third name on their wish list.

"Newcastle have been exploring other options, they weren't putting all their eggs into the Munoz basket," a source revealed. "They've asked Arsenal about Trossard and Martinelli. They also like Cody Gakpo, but the current feeling seems to be that Martinelli could be cheaper. Nothing's advanced yet, and Newcastle won't rush this. They weren't entirely convinced about meeting Munoz's release clause, and they're prepared to wait to find a deal they're fully convinced strengthens their squad whilst still representing good value for money."

But the Magpies' shopping list doesn't end there. Newcastle have also cast their eye over Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, the midfielder-cum-right-sided player who endured a forgettable loan spell at Marseille during the second half of last season. Arsenal are understood to be open to offloading the youngster, with a permanent exit very much on the table.

"Arsenal want to sell Ethan Nwaneri, so there are bound to be suitors," one scout confirmed. "Newcastle will be among them, because they know they're going to have to improve after a difficult season, and they might be set to lose players as well. Nwaneri can play in midfield and also on the right, so that's two positions where Newcastle would like to strengthen, and he is very much on their radar."

The Gunners weren't particularly impressed by what they saw from Nwaneri in France, meaning another underwhelming campaign could damage his market value. A permanent deal remains a possibility, though Arsenal may also consider allowing him out on loan again to assess his development before making a final call on his future.