Two players with same agent as Eddie Howe set to sign and £40m man en route to USA

It's been a busy few days at Newcastle United, with the squad travelling to the USA, Allan Saint-Maximin nearing a move to Al-Ahli and two key targets edging closer to signing at St James' Park.

We know Harvey Barnes is on Tyneside and set to be announced as our second signing of the summer, but a breakthrough arrived last night in our pursuit of Southampton's Valentino Livramento.

A deal in the region of £30m is edging closer and the Northern Echo report that personal terms will not be a problem. The Saints are resigned to losing the 20-year-old - who is eager to sign - and Newcastle are pushing to finalise a deal, allowing the player to undergo a medical over the weekend and join our USA tour; where Joelinton is en route and due to arrive soon after being granted a visa.

Interestingly, both Barnes and Livramento are represented by Wasserman; a global agency that also look after Eddie Howe and Harrison Ashby. There's so many factors at play when negotiating a new signing, with the transfer fee and personal terms particularly key, but Newcastle's strong relationship with Wasserman will have helped lines of communication.

For example, CAA Base - another leading agency - played a key role in James Maddison's £40m move to Spurs, as they facilitated Ange Postecoglou's appointment and have three other clients at Tottenham in Heung-min Son, Richarlison and Pedro Porro. Agency links won't decide a transfer, but it can help deals progress smoothly when positive relationships between agent and club already exist.

As we revealed in an NUFC Blog exclusive earlier today, Newcastle are also showing interest in Chelsea left-back Lewis Hall. Like Howe, Ashby, Barnes and Livramento, the 18-year-old talent is also represented by Wasserman.