Newcastle eye two Premier League defenders with club chiefs ‘undecided’ on Fabian Schar and Dan Burn

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Newcastle United have reportedly identified two centre-back targets within the Premier League ahead of the January transfer window.

A top-class centre-back was a top priority for Newcastle United over the summer and new sporting director Paul Mitchell pushed hard to lure Marc Guehi to St James’ Park.

However, Newcastle’s talks over Guehi collapsed late into the window after Crystal Palace raised their asking price above £70m.

Newcastle could return for Guehi in January, with a new centre-back signing still on the club’s shopping list.

However, Newcastle now have a concern over signing Guehi and could look elsewhere when the transfer window re-opens.

Newcastle target Wout Faes and Nikola Milenkovic

If Guehi is lured elsewhere or has an outrageous asking price, Newcastle are already planning ahead with alternative targets.

According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle are understood to be closely monitoring Premier League duo Wout Faes and Nikola Milenkovic.

The two centre-backs, who play for Leicester City and Nottingham Forest respectively, have both started the season in good form and would add to a very thin defensive department at Newcastle.

The report claims that Leicester would set an asking price of around £34m (€40m) for Faes, while Forest want at least £42m (€50m) for Milenkovic.

Newcastle have been previously linked to Milenkovic before he joined Forest from Fiorentina.

If Palace are unwilling to drop their £70m Guehi asking price, Newcastle could swoop for the duo for a similar fee.

Newcastle chiefs undecided on Fabian Schar and Dan Burn

There could be an overhaul to Newcastle’s defence over the next two transfer windows.

Not only are the Magpies looking to bring in top-class centre-backs, but the likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn could depart.

According to the same CaughtOffside report, Newcastle chiefs are “undecided” on whether to offer Schar and Burn new deals.

READ MORE: Alan Shearer says Newcastle’s January transfer target is not playing very well this season after England snub

The defensive duo have both entered the final year of their contracts and will become free agents in 2025 if a new deal is not offered.

It would be a bold decision by the club, especially as Schar is currently Newcastle’s most important player. and has been a consistent performer during the injury crisis at the back.