Newcastle United are one of several big teams interested in Castello Lukeba along with Liverpool, according to reports.
The summer transfer window has been and gone and the January transfer window is still months away, but that doesn’t mean there’s no speculation.
Newcastle United endured a difficult summer but eventually turned things around with marquee signings of Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey.
Add Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw to the mix, and Newcastle spent the most in a single window since PIF bought the club.
But there will be more new signings to come, especially if prospective new sporting director Ross Wilson makes the switch from Nottingham Forest.
Wilson has made 43 signings during five windows at Forest, including the captures of Elliot Anderson, Anthony Elanga and Chris Wood.
Newcastle aren’t the most active club in the January window any more, though they spent £90m in 2022 and bought Anthony Gordon the following year, so they may be tempted to dip into the market in 2026.
RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is an early link ahead of the window opening on New Year’s Day.
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Newcastle United linked with Castello Lukeba transfer
Lukeba is a highly rated centre-back for RB Leipzig who is attracting interest from a lot of big clubs.
Caught Offside report that Liverpool are the leaders in the chase at present as they prepare for life without Ibrahima Konate, whose contract expires in the summer.
However, they are not alone, with sources suggesting that Newcastle can be ‘added to the list’ of clubs who like the 22-year-old, alongside Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
It’s also reported that Lukeba could be available for much less than his £78.4m release clause, with Leipzig willing to accept a bid in the region of £52.3m.
The Frenchman joined Leipzig from hometown club Lyon for a big £30m in 2023 and he has gone from strength to strength in Germany, playing 79 games.
Do Newcastle United need to sign another centre-back?
If Newcastle did dip into the transfer window in January, it feels like a new centre-back won’t be a top priority.
Howe is well-stocked in the position at present following Thiaw’s arrival in the summer, with the fan favourite centre-back forming a strong partnership with Sven Botman.
With Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth all also in the squad, there are plenty of options at the back.
However, the advancing years of that quartet, with Schar, Krafth and Lascelles out of contract next summer at the moment, may force Newcastle back into the centre-back market at some point.
Beforehand, though, a new full-back is a much more pressing concern.
Newcastle are down to the bare bones with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall sidelined, forcing Burn back out to the flank and Kieran Trippier to play more than a 35-year-old should.
If the Toon do spend any money in the new year, it should be on bringing in a new left-back.
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