“Newcastle are quite lucky, I think, in the centre-back position, they’ve got enough there, especially when you consider they only play a back four,” Jacobs said on Loaded Mag NUFC’s YouTube page.
“To be perfectly honest, it’s not necessarily my understanding that centre-back is at the top of Newcastle’s priorities, despite some reports to the contrary.” However, those names you’ve mentioned have some substance to them.
“I believe the price for Joachim Andersen is too high at this point, and you can understand why given the fact that a lot of centre-backs have been on the move, and many of them have been £30m, £35m, or £40m.” So, if you take it, you can bet that every other selling club will be using it as a yardstick.”
“I know the Andersen links have some genuine substance to them,” he concluded, “but simply not at that price.”
Andersen, who was dubbed “brilliant” by Micah Richards (via Football.London) last season, has been a regular starter for Crystal Palace since joining the club in 2021, following a loan spell with Fulham in the Premier League.
At 27 years old, Andersen is very much a player for the present, and would battle for a spot in the Newcastle team alongside the likes of Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, and Jamaal Lascelles if he joined.
However, given how inflated the present market is, Palace may be unlikely to drop their asking price, making a transfer impossible to complete.
How much money does Andersen make?
Newcastle would most likely be able to offer the 22-cap Denmark international a pay increase, potentially helping to sell a move to Andersen this summer.
Last season, Andersen appeared in 33 games for the Eagles, keeping eight clean sheets and scoring once. After joining Palace for around £15 million, they stand to benefit handsomely if he leaves during this transfer window.
Andersen’s ability, particularly at longer distances, is one of his primary talents. Last season, he was in the top 1% of Premier League centre-backs for completed long passes and in the top 12% for progressive passing distance.
He was also in the top four percent for clearances and the top ten percent for aerial duel win rate last season, and he did not make a single error that directly led to an opposing shot.