Newcastle United fans have been left embarrassed after tracking a private plane they thought was carrying a major signing for them - only to find out it was carrying a player bound for one of their fierce rivals.
Eddie Howe's side are back in the Champions League this season after a fifth placed finish in the last Premier League campaign secured a spot in Europe's top club competition.
It has been a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far on Tyneside, with Callum Wilson's departure following the expiry of his contract perhaps the biggest news so far.
However, that could be about to change after news broke that Newcastle had agreed a £55m transfer fee with Nottingham Forest for Anthony Elanga.
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The 23-year-old winger has starred for Forest after joining from Manchester United for £15m in 2023 over the past two seasons, with his efforts helping to secure a seventh placed finish in the Premier League in the last campaign and securing Europa Conference League football at the City Ground.
But Forest appear to be about to make a healthy profit on the winger, after the fee was agreed between the two clubs.
Another area of the squad where Howe could strengthen is in the centre of defence and reports suggest the Magpies are hoping to return for a player they tried and failed to sign last summer.
Newcastle made a series of bids last summer to try and sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, the highest of these being reported as around £70m, but all were rejected by the Eagles.
However, the defender is now entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park after winning the FA Cup with the London club last season.
This summer therefore represents the last chance the Eagles have of obtaining a substantial fee for the England international, or risk him leaving for free in fewer than 12 months from now.
With the summer transfer window now in full swing, rumours about players and where they could be heading to - potentially for medicals or to tie up deal with new clubs - are bubbling away.
And Newcastle fans thought they might be tracking a flight of Guehi's representatives from London to the North East amid suggestions the defender could be about to sign for the St James' Park club.
But Magpies supporters have ultimately been mistaken as Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie bore bad news for them and revealed it was Simon Adingra who was travelling to the North East - to sign for Newcastle's fierce rivals Sunderland.
The Black Cats have won promotion back to the Premier League after beating Sheffield United in last season's Championship play-off final and securing a return to the top flight for the first time since 2017.
Adingra is poised to sign for the Stadium of Light club from Brighton for a reported transfer fee of more than £20m.
Topics: Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Marc Guehi, Sunderland, Transfers, Transfer News
John McDougall