A report in the Mail Online claims both Wolves and Watford are keen to bring Royal Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta to the Premier League, but Newcastle should join the chase.
The player who has represented Portugal up to Under-20 level has impressed since joining the Belgian side from Benfica in the summer of 2018.
Newcastle bought Emil Krafth in a bid to provide quality competition to DeAndre Yedlin at right-back, but on early evidence, the Swede is not the answer.
Buta is just 22, and has pace, quick feet, but most crucially, is a superb crosser of the ball, with an eye for a key pass.
The report claims Antwerp would be reluctant to lose their defender mid-season, but adds that a bid of around £5 million may prove too much for them to turn down.
At that fee Newcastle should be actively pursuing the player, who looks like he could develop into a top defender.
Newcastle could sell Manquillo and sign Buta
There is a chance that Steve Bruce could sanction a sale of Javier Manquillo in January, and with a relatively small outlay, Buta could be a very shrewd acquisition to take his place in the squad.
Yedlin has been a virtually unopposed starter since he arrived at the club, and bringing Krafth in does not seem to have changed that.
But if Buta was signed, he would not only provide competition, but could actually become first choice.
Next season will see Yedlin enter the final year of his current contract, which means the second half of the season, and the summer months are going to see Newcastle with a big decision to make over the American.
Certainly they need to push him, and see how he reacts to proper competition for his place before deciding on a potential new offer.
Buta could be the man to bring that real rivalry for his place, and we would then have genuine quality in depth at what has always been a problem position.
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