Newcastle have scouted ‘monster’ defender who would be much cheaper than Marc Guehi ahead of January

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Newcastle United almost broke their transfer record to sign Marc Guehi over the summer.

The Magpies relentlessly pursued Marc Guehi, as Paul Mitchell tried desperately hard to agree a deal with Crystal Palace.

In the end, Crystal Palace raised Guehi’s asking price to £75million, and Newcastle United rightly walked away.

Now Newcastle are weighing up what to do in January. It is reported that Newcastle’s priority is to sign a winger, despite the Guehi deal taking precedence over the summer.

It has also been claimed that Newcastle will not be able to sign Guehi and a winger in January for financial reasons.

Newcastle scout Ligue 1 centre-back after failing to sign Marc Guehi

But there is still a need for a centre-back. Fabian Schar does not have a huge amount of cover, with Emil Krafth currently providing support. Jamaal Lascelles is still out of action with injury, but could be fit in the New Year.

Regardless, Newcastle are still looking at possible centre-back additions, with Paul Mitchell eager to cast the Magpies’ recruitment net a little bit wider.

That could lead them to France, with TBR Football insider Graeme Bailey telling Geordie Boot Boys that Newcastle United have been watching Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

“He’s a very interesting player,” he said.

“A lot of clubs are watching him, including Newcastle. He’s a big talent. I think he’s an interesting name.

“If Newcastle don’t go down the Guehi route then they could target someone like him. He’s a top talent, and a right-sider which is what Newcastle are looking for. Newcastle are one of many teams looking at him. He’s a solid performer with a very big future ahead of him.

“There’s just better value outside of the Premier League. If Khusanov was playing in England then he’d be worth £50million already. There’s a Premier League tax. France is a market that Newcastle have done well with in the past, having signed Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman from there. It’s a market that Paul Mitchell knows well too.”

Who is Abdukodir Khusanov?

Guehi would be a safe signing for Newcastle, and the club would have real confidence in him being Schar’s long-term replacement at St James’ Park.

In contrast, signing Khusanov would be a much bigger risk.

He is a 20-year-old defender who currently plays for Lens in Ligue 1, having joined them in the summer of 2022.

Khusanov is an Uzbekistan international, and is the first ever Uzbek player to compete in Ligue 1.

He stands at 6ft 1in tall, which makes him the same height as Schar.

According to French website Jeunes Footeux, Khusanov is described as a ‘monster’ by his Lens teammates, while the Ligue 1 club value him between £20million and £25million.

Khusanov is available for half the price of Guehi, and he is a player that Newcastle United are very much aware of. However, it remains to be seen if Newcastle will formalise their interest and take a risk, or go with the safer but more expensive option of Guehi.