Newcastle are reportedly moving forward with their contingency plans for the centre-back position after being rejected several times for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
The Eagles have rejected several offers from the Magpies for England international Guehi and are insisting on £70 million.
3
Palace recently rejected a club record offer of £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons to Eddie Howe’s side.
And with Guehi’s centre-back partner Joachim Andersen on the verge of a move to Fulham, it could become even more unlikely for the south London club to part ways with the 24-year-old.
With time running out for the summer transfer window, Newcastle has now intensified its work on alternatives.
According to The Athletic, the Toon have started talks with Bayer Leverkusen about Edmond Tapsoba and are interested in Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.
Tapsoba almost moved to the Premier League last season when he emerged as one of the key targets in Tottenham’s defence.
However, Ange Postecoglou chose Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg instead.
Tapsoba stayed at Leverkusen and played a central role from then on, making 46 appearances in all competitions and helping Xabi Alonso’s team win the Bundesliga undefeated and also lift the DFB Pokal.
And last weekend, the 25-year-old also won the German Super Cup after converting the decisive penalty in the penalty shootout.
However, Newcastle may face competition for Tapsoba, with reports saying several leading clubs have their eye on the Burkina Faso international.
Meanwhile, Disasi, who joined Chelsea from Monaco last season for £38 million on a six-year contract, has also emerged as a possible option.
3
3
Under Mauricio Pochettino, the French international played 44 times for Chelsea in all competitions.
However, due to a hernia operation, he missed all of the club’s pre-season games under new head coach Enzo Maresca.
Newcastle’s need for a new centre-back reached a new peak following their 1-0 win over Southampton last Saturday, after Fabian Schar was sent off for headbutting Ben Brereton Diaz.
Schar’s red card also earned him a three-match suspension, leaving coach Eddie Howe with few options for the centre-back position as Sven Botman remains out with a knee injury and is not expected to return until later this year.
Summer signing Lloyd Kelly, who joined on a free transfer from Bournemouth, is likely to replace Schar and play alongside Dan Burn in central defence.
However, it is believed that Newcastle are hoping to sign someone of European descent.
The Pitch Prospect BET offer
Registration offer: Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
T&Cs: New customers aged 18+ only. Sign up and wager £10 or more on any football market within 7 days via mobile at odds of 2.00 or more. No cashouts available. Get 6 free bets worth £5 on selected markets. Free bets expire after 7 days. Card payments and Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly