The Athletic has revealed the five centre-backs being looked at by Newcastle United as Steve Bruce bids to boost his defensive options.
Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer, Tottenham Hotspur’s Cameron Carter-Vickers and Arsenal’s William Saliba are on the list.
Former Liverpool loanee Ozan Kabak and Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster Dion Sanderson complete the quintet.
Chris Waugh highlights that Bruce is looking to add ‘greater youthfulness’ and ‘additional pace’ to an ageing backline.
Jamaal Lascelles is the Magpies’ youngest senior centre-back at 27 and arguably the only option in this area with a turn of pace.
As a result, it seems the club are looking to add at least one new central defender to their ranks this summer and have five options in mind.
Saliba is named by The Athletic as a potential loan option, while Sanderson is considered more a player for the future following a £1 million bid.
Ajer is believed to have been ‘scouted extensively’ and started the summer as Newcastle’s leading defensive target, but it seems Norwich City and Bayer Leverkusen are now in the mix for the Norwegian’s signature.
Former Bournemouth loanee Carter-Vickers is also said to be under consideration after a glowing recommendation from Graeme Jones – the Geordie coach currently at Euro 2020 with England.
Schalke’s Kabak appears to be another option, although Waugh reveals that the Turkish international is likely to prove too expensive.
They are several solid options who’d all offer something different to an ageing Newcastle defence, but it remains to be seen who will be attainable as Bruce is left to work with a limited transfer budget.
Read: Nahitan Nandez breaks silence about potential Leeds move.
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