Newcastle now have held talks to sign ‘incredible’ defender who Sam Allardyce loves

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Newcastle United have held exploratory talks with relegated Leeds United over the possibility of signing Robin Koch.

Several Premier League clubs are set to offer German defender Robin Koch an immediate route back to the Premier League following his relegation with Leeds United.

Newcastle have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old German international a few times recently, but in terms of who is leading the race, there are other Premier League sides who are further down the line.

Five Premier League clubs are keen on Robin Koch including Newcastle

According to 90mins Manchester United and Tottenham have held talks with Koch’s representatives over a summer move while Newcastle along with Brentford and Nottingham Forest have held ‘exploratory’ talks.

The 6’4″ defender made 36 Premier League appearances for Leeds last season, mostly in central defence but he did play a few games in a defensive midfield role.

Sam Allardyce named Robin Koch as one of three players who really impressed him during his short spell as Leeds manager, and it seems that other managers have seen what Big Sam noticed too.

I always find it hard to judge a defender in a relegated side as, obviously they can’t have had the best of seasons and it’s not like they often have goals and assists figures to give an indication that they’re better than the team around them.

Even looking at where they compare alongside players in the same position across Europe’s top five leagues on FBref isn’t going to paint a good picture. In Robin Koch’s case his aerial duel stats are the only ones that suggest he’d be anything more than an ‘okay’ signing.

If Eddie Howe sees something in Robin Koch, who are we to argue?

His former boss, Jesse Marsch hailed Koch as ‘incredible‘ but again, that was Jesse Marsch, so I take that with a pinch of salt.

I do a podcast with a Leeds United supporter and I asked him his opinion on Koch, and while I can’t print it here, let’s just say, I’ll not be too upset if we let Man United or Spurs take this one.

All that being said, if Eddie Howe genuinely thinks he’s good enough, then I believe he is. Howe knows a lot more than I do and we’ve all seen what he can do with mediocrity, so I’ll not kick off if this one comes to pass.