Newcastle United have just one week to get a centre-back through the door.
The club have lost their opening two games in the Premier League, and shipped six goals to West Ham United and Aston Villa.
Given Steve Bruce prides himself on being solid at the back, that is a big concern.
Lots of names have been mentioned over the course of the summer, but the Magpies still haven’t signed anyone.
At one stage, it looked as though Axel Tuanzebe might be someone who could come in.
The star has previously worked with Bruce at Aston Villa, and had got the green light to leave Manchester United on loan.
The Telegraph have produced a report today about the current state of play Newcastle.
Apparently, Tuanzebe did favour a move to Newcastle.
But Newcastle simply couldn’t afford the loan fee to make it happen.
He therefore ended up joining up with Dean Smith at Villa Park.
Tuanzebe would have been a great addition
Newcastle being unable to afford a loan fee just doesn’t bode well in terms of new faces coming in.
It is frustrating that the club could not bring in Tuanzebe.
The 23-year-old would have been a great signing as his pace and athleticism make him different to Bruce’s existing options.
What is even more annoying to think about is how he probably won’t play regularly at Villa, with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa firmly established in their defence.
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