Newcastle United identify £30 million Champions League defender as cost-effective alternative
For anyone who has been following the current transfer window, it's clear that Newcastle United are targeting a central defender this summer.
The move is being driven by both urgent squad needs and long-term strategic planning.
With the dependable duo of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, now well into their 30s and plagued by injury concerns surrounding other defensive options, manager Eddie Howe is moving quickly to secure a key area.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace was initially viewed as the perfect answer, and Newcastle pushed hard last summer to bring him in, with bids reportedly crossing the £50m [$68m] mark, according to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie.
However, despite Guehi now entering the final year of his contract, Palace’s stance on his valuation has remained rigid, making negotiations slow and frustrating.
Although the player is still held in high regard within the club, sources indicate that Newcastle has now cooled its pursuit after months of stalemate and the departure of sporting director Paul Mitchell, who had been the primary architect of the original push for Guehi.
Newcastle shifts focus to Ligue 1With time running out, Newcastle have switched to a more realistic and affordable option and have identified Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi as the target.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
The 25-year-old Argentina international is available for around £30m [$40m], according to Football Insider.
Balerdi has 8 international caps and Champions League experience under his belt; he has the quality and youth that Newcastle are looking for in the heart of the defense.
He is calm in possession and intelligent in his positioning and can slot into Howe’s system where the backline is key to building attacks and balancing when the full-backs go forward.
With Juventus also sniffing around Balerdi despite just signing Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle, the Magpies will need to act decisively if they are to secure his services before others move ahead.