Report: Striker who has held talks with Newcastle now wants to join Manchester United

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Transfer Saga Takes New Twist as Manchester United Emerge as Preferred Destination

The future of free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin has become one of the more intriguing subplots of this summer’s transfer window, with the former Everton striker now reportedly setting his sights on a move to Manchester United.

While Newcastle United have maintained longstanding interest in the 27-year-old England international, recent developments suggest Old Trafford has become his desired next chapter.

Newcastle’s exploratory talks with Calvert-Lewin earlier this window failed to progress, with the Magpies instead focusing their attention on Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and maintaining interest in Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, and emerging talent Samu Aghehowa.

The St James’ Park hierarchy appear content to let the situation develop, keeping Calvert-Lewin as a potential contingency option should their primary targets prove unattainable.

However, The Sun reports the Sheffield-born forward has taken the unusual step of dismissing his representatives to personally oversee negotiations, a clear indication of his determination to secure his preferred move.

Manchester United’s recent acquisition of Benjamin Sesko – another player strongly linked with Newcastle – hasn’t deterred Calvert-Lewin, though his path to regular football at Old Trafford remains complicated by the presence of Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

The potential departure of Højlund to AC Milan could open the door for Calvert-Lewin, whose physical profile and Premier League experience (71 goals in 273 Everton appearances) would offer Ruben Amorim a different tactical option.

Newcastle’s interest, while genuine, appears more measured – Eddie Howe has long admired the striker’s attributes but currently views him as a secondary option rather than primary target.

Craig Hope of the Daily Mail confirmed Howe’s appreciation of Calvert-Lewin’s abilities, noting the Newcastle manager had considered him as far back as 2024.

Yet with the Magpies’ recruitment team prioritizing other forwards, a move to Tyneside seems increasingly unlikely unless their transfer plans unravel in the window’s final weeks.

Aston Villa have also been credited with interest, adding another potential suitor for a player whose availability on a free transfer makes him an attractive proposition despite injury concerns in recent seasons.

Calvert-Lewin’s decision to represent himself in negotiations suggests an urgency to resolve his future before preseason progresses further, with Manchester United’s striker situation likely needing clarification before they would commit.

For Newcastle, the calculus is straightforward – while Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League pedigree and aerial dominance would add depth, his injury history and wage demands make him a risk compared to younger alternatives.

The coming weeks will reveal whether the striker’s gamble on self-representation pays off with a dream move to Old Trafford, or if Newcastle’s more cautious approach leaves the door ajar for a late change of heart.

As the transfer window’s final month approaches, Calvert-Lewin finds himself in the unusual position of being both coveted and conditional – a talented striker waiting for dominoes to fall at Europe’s elite clubs before his next destination becomes clear.