Newcastle United will surely need to strengthen their defence this summer.
Indeed, it was reportedly something Newcastle considered last season but FFP constraints meant PIF‘s transfer budget just did not stretch that far.
Defensive options at the back were light as it is even before the dreadful news regarding Sven Botman. The defender, who has already suffered a serious knee injury this season, went down with a similar problem again earlier this week.
Though Jamaal Lascelles has performed admirably at times, there’s reportedly still a chance he leaves this summer despite only recently signing a new contract. Fabian Schar, meanwhile, surely cannot keep going on forever at the age of 32.
Outside of playing either Dan Burn or Emil Krafth centrally, the options behind those names don’t exactly fill with confidence. Young Alex Murphy is full of promise but substantially relying on him next season would be a worry.
Luckily, Newcastle were already on the hunt for a new defensive addition even before Botman’s latest injury.
Now, some insight into what exactly the club are looking for has emerged.
Newcastle transfer news: The type of defender the club want to sign this summer
According to journalist Joel Bland on X (formerly Twitter), the club remain on the hunt for an athletic option at right-sided centre-half.
They aren’t ignoring the idea of strengthening on the left side of the back two too following Botman’s injury but an athletic player to act as cover and competition for Schar is on the agenda.
Newcastle transfer news: Defence needs strengthening
Schar has impressed at times this season, albeit he’s not covered himself in glory all the time.
Still, the Swiss international is advancing in years, there’s little getting away from that. With Botman set to miss a significant period of time, the central defensive partnership to have performed so well last season will surely not be available for a while.
Having shipped goals all season even when playing together, it’s clear the defence needs strengthening. Only seven teams in the Premier League have conceded more often than Newcastle, after all.
Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo is reportedly a target on the right side of the defence and certainly fits the bill. He’s been described as a “tower of strength” at the back and his athletic capabilities have been hailed by Pep Guardiola.
Still, the Cottagers are thought to be preparing a big new contract for the 26-year-old in order to ward off interest, so signing him may be difficult.
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