Newcastle United have leaked a whopping 23 goals already in the Premier League this season – more than any other top flight club bar basement side Norwich..
Most of the names linked with a move to Tyneside since the £300million takeover was completed have been high-profile forwards, but the stats suggest that defensive reinforcements should perhaps be the priority.
The January transfer window is rapidly closing in and can’t come quick enough for Toon fans who are desperate to see their side’s fortunes change, after the defeat against Chelsea on Saturday meant Newcastle stretched their winless run to 10 Premier League games.
Here, we look at seven players who could bolster the Newcastle backline in the New Year to help stave off the threat of relegation.
James Tarkowski
The Burnley stalwart’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, with several reports since the takeover suggesting Newcastle are in the hunt for the centre half.
A commanding, no-nonsense defender, Tarkowski would be available for a cut-price fee and could shore up a fragile Magpies backline.
Boubacar Kamara
Boubacar Kamara is reportedly being chased by Manchester United.
French U21 international Kamara has already played over 100 games for Marseille in his short career and was heavily linked with a move to Tyneside last summer.
Another player whose contract runs out next year, the French giants will be open to offers in January to avoid losing one of their star assets for nothing.
A versatile youngster who can also play in holding midfield, he may be regarded as one for the future rather than for the here and now.
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Chris Smalling
Former Man Utd centre half Smalling has revived his career on the continent with Italian giants Roma.
The England international has 18 months left on his deal so would still command a reasonable fee, but that shouldn’t be enough to faze our new wealthy owners.
The 31-year old would be an ideal option for the here and now to get Newcastle out of trouble and clear of the relegation zone.
Niklas Sule
The German defender may be a long shot for Newcastle to land in their current plight, but with the Bayern Munich defender reportedly keen to move to the Premier League, the Magpies may have a chance of landing him.
Sule is out of contract in the summer, meaning the Toon should be able to sign him at a cut price, but will almost certainly face competition from sides competing in European competition.
However, Sule has been a regular in the Bayern team this season, so they may offer him a new contract to silence any rumours of him departing in January.
Nicolas Tagliafico.
Nicolas Tagliafico is reportedly available for £10m
Ajax’s highly-rated full-back was linked with a £10 million move to West Ham in the summer, and with the Argentine international’s contract set to run out in 2023, the Dutch champions may look to bag a fee for Tagliafico while they can.
The 29-year-old has made 98 appearances for Ajax and would add much-needed quality to the left-back position, where the Magpies only have Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis currently to choose from.
Similar to Sule, Newcastle would face competition from fellow Premier League clubs to land his signature.
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Nathan Ake
Signed for a whopping £41 million from Bournemouth in 2020, defender Nathan Ake has struggled for game time ever since he arrived at Manchester City.
Playing just 13 games for City so far –added with the likes John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias all ahead of him in the pecking order – Ake may look to push for a loan, or even a permanent deal.
Ake would significantly improve Newcastle defence, a unit that has shipped more goals than any other Premier League side so far this season.
Diogo Dalot
A lot like Ake, Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has found himself surplus to requirements, featuring in just 22 league games since his arrival from FC Porto in 2018.
The 22-year-old was out on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, where he made 21 appearances, but surprisingly remained at the Red Devils this season despite clearly being way down in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's priorities.
Newcastle may be able to prize Dalot to Tyneside on loan or on a permanent deal, with his ability to operate at left-back and at right-back being a very useful asset for the Magpies’ leaky defence.
SOURCE : Chroniclelive
