Newcastle United are currently looking at deals for two Chelsea players, one of which is Trevoh Chalobah.
The Magpies have been linked with signing Conor Gallagher on loan, but he is not the only Blue who Eddie Howe is interested in.
Newcastle are looking to sign another midfielder after announcing a deal for Sandro Tonali, but that is not the club’s only priority in the transfer window. Toon officials are also eyeing up a right-sided centre-back who can provide competition for Fabian Schar.
The Switzerland international is 31-years-old, and will need to be replaced in the coming years despite a remarkable resurgence under Howe.
Whoever Newcastle bring in should be someone who can eventually take Schar’s place, and that is why Chalobah is an intriguing target.
Newcastle interested in Trevoh Chalobah
According to 90min, Newcastle have registered their interest in Chelsea centre-back Chalobah. The report states that Crystal Palace and West Ham are also keen.
However, the report states that the Blues are looking to keep the 23-year-old at Stamford Bridge, and are protected by his lengthy contract. Chalobah signed a new deal last year that runs until 2028.
With Chelsea looking to keep Chalobah who has five years left on his contract, it is difficult to see how Newcastle can do a deal for a player who has been likened to one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs.
Ian Wright really likes the Chelsea defender
Chalobah broke into the Chelsea senior team in 2021, scoring on his Premier League debut when Thomas Tuchel was calling the shots in West London.
It was a strong start for the youngster, who really impressed Arsenal legend Ian Wright that summer ahead of his top flight debut. He even compared Chalobah to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.
“Watching him against Arsenal (in pre-season) I was thinking: ‘Wow, he looks good’,” he said on his podcast Wrighty’s House in August 2021.
“I watched him against Villarreal and I thought: ‘My god, he’s really good.’
“You know who he reminded me of, not the same player, not the same stature, but Virgil van Dijk when he played for Celtic. People said he was taking liberties just because he was good and not in the same standard (as the other players).”
Van Dijk took that confidence from Celtic to Southampton and then to Liverpool where he has won the lot and established himself as one of the game’s elite defenders.
While Wright is not saying Chalobah is the same player as Van Dijk, he would be a top level signing if he can achieve even half of what the Dutchman has in his career.
A deal feels impossible, in truth. And that is a great shame, as signing Chalobah would fill two positions. He can also play at right-back, which would allow him to provide cover for Kieran Trippier.
Instead, it feels like his immediate future is with Chelsea.
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