Newcastle United Ahead of Juventus and West Ham in Pursuit of £31.5m Defender

There have been mixed reports regarding Newcastle United’s intentions to sign a center-back during the upcoming January transfer window.

Some sources suggest the Magpies are eager to bolster their defensive options, particularly as key players like Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, and Fabian Schar are now over 30.

A potential reshuffle in defense has been rumored, with several names linked to St. James’ Park.

Among them are Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez, Lens’ rising talent Abdukodir Khusanov, and long-term target Marc Guehi.

These reports indicate Newcastle’s interest in refreshing their backline for the second half of the season.

Conversely, other claims suggest Sven Botman’s expected return to first-team action could shift Newcastle’s priorities.

Instead of focusing on defense, Eddie Howe may look to strengthen the attack, with a striker and a right-sided winger reportedly high on the club’s agenda.

Recent updates, however, strongly suggest Newcastle will indeed pursue a center-back in January.

Reports indicate the Magpies are now leading the race to bring a former Premier League defender back to England.

Newcastle has been linked with Fikayo Tomori, the ex-Chelsea center-back who has spent the past three and a half years at AC Milan.

Tomori initially joined Milan on a half-season loan in January 2021 before making a permanent move six months later.

During his first full season, he helped the club win Serie A and earned a spot in the league’s Team of the Season.

His performances in Italy led to widespread expectations of a consistent place in the England squad.

However, after facing Newcastle twice in last season’s Champions League group stages, Tomori has seen limited opportunities at Milan.

Reports suggest the Serie A side may consider selling him for around £30 million during the winter window.

Newcastle is said to be in a strong position to secure the 27-year-old’s services.

According to CaughtOffside, the Magpies could capitalize on Juventus prioritizing other targets in January to finalize a deal for Tomori.

As the transfer window approaches, Newcastle faces a critical decision: reinforce their defense or prioritize attacking reinforcements.

Regardless of the direction they choose, the club is poised to make significant moves to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season.