“For Newcastle, a centre-back is the next position they will try to add to. There is no clarity yet over a final name, but they have a list with many players on it. The club were looking at Axel Disasi for some time but he was too expensive and joined Chelsea.”
It is positive to hear that Newcastle are trying to add a new defender to their squad, at a time when Botman and Schar are arguably relied upon a little too much, with an injury to either proving to be problematic.
That being said, the latter does turn 32 years of age later this and can be improved upon, with some ruthlessness needed from the Magpies, in terms of turning him from a key starter into a squad player.
For Eddie Howe’s side to challenge in both the Premier League and the Champions League, as well as in the domestic cups, they may need three or four genuinely good centre-back options, in order for effective rotation to be used and for the team to look strong regardless of who is playing at the back.
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen – they missed out on Monaco defender Axel Disasi, who has joined Chelsea instead – and the Dane might be precisely what they are searching for before the summer transfer window ends.
He now has plenty of Premier League experience, so there is no risk of him coming in and taking time to adjust to a different culture and speed of play, and he is a towering presence who is also a class act in possession, winning four aerial duels and having a 92.9% pass completion rate in Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace.
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