Newcastle United could now be set to miss out on one of their defensive targets this summer as Leeds United’s Robin Koch has his eye on a return to Germany with two Bundesliga sides keen to sign him.
Robin Koch had been earmarked by Newcastle due to his versatility. Able to play several positions across the back he’d have been an extremely handy player to have in the squad.
Following Leeds‘ relegation to the Championship, there is likely to be an exodus of some of their top players who are deemed too good for the Championship. Robin Koch is one such player.
Koch will return to Germany to increase his chances of an international call-up
According to Kicker in Germany, the German international feels that a move back to the Bundesliga would help him to receive another international call-up having been overlooked for the last year and a half.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen could be about to battle it out for his signature as the 26-year-old is likely to snub a move to Newcastle.
Other than increasing his chances of playing for the German national side, a move to either Bundesliga club would likely see him playing more first-team football.
Koch would find it hard to break into Newcastle’s first team ahead of anyone in that rock solid back four from last season, and would likely have been brought in as a utility player. Someone who can fill a gap in the back if someone were to be unavailable.
Newcastle have far better defensive targets in mind than Koch
There’s also the belief that Koch sees himself as a leader and would like to captain the side he plays for. He likely knows that he’d be highly unlikely to be seen as such at Newcastle who already have a strong leadership team led by Jamaal Lascelles and Kieran Trippier.
It’s not a transfer target I’m sad to see slip past us. Yes he’d be handy to have in the squad to fill in for injured defenders, but he’d not really improve the squad by being there despite Jesse Marsch‘s claims that he is an ‘incredible‘ player.
I believe Newcastle have better defensive targets in mind with David Hancko linked yesterday as a prime example.
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