Newcastle United have been linked with signing German centre-back Jonathan Tah, which could be bad news for Fabian Schar.
90min have reported that the Magpies have held talks with intermediaries about the Bayer Leverkusen defender’s situation. He looks set to be on the move this summer, and wants to join a club that is playing in the Premier League.
The report states that both Newcastle and Liverpool are keen on signing the 26-year-old, and he would certainly be an interesting arrival at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s side are currently challenging for a place in next season’s Champions League, and Newcastle’s rock solid defence is a big reason why.
The Magpies have the best defence in the Premier League right now, and Howe’s consistent back five are often unbeatable. The collective of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn have been incredible this season, and have been key to our success.
But interest in Tah suggests that the Toon decision makers are looking towards the future, and that could be bad news for Schar.
Jonathan Tah is a lot younger than Newcastle’s Fabian Schar
While Schar certainly isn’t over the hill at 31-years-old, he is of the age where the club will begin to eye a replacement.
Any centre-back that arrives at Newcastle in the future will be brought in to play alongside Botman, who is both a player for the present and the future. He is only 23, and is going to be a Toon player for a very long time.
But Schar is at a different point in his career. Newcastle will be well aware of his age, and know that they need to have someone else lined up to play alongside Botman in the future.
And Tah could be that man. Aside from Trippier, Howe’s back five is full of giants. They are imposing figures, which must be quite intimidating for opposition attackers. But Tah would make Newcastle’s backline even bigger.
The Germany international is 6ft 5in tall, which is bigger than Botman at 6ft 4in. They would be a gigantic duo at the back, and could make Newcastle’s mean defence even meaner.
A move for the Bayer Leverkusen star would put Schar under pressure. Tah isn’t going to move to Newcastle without guarantees of first team football, while the Magpies aren’t going to be looking to replace Botman anytime soon.
It would certainly be ruthless, but a deal to bring Tah to Tyneside could see Schar replaced.