Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule is reportedly open to the prospect of joining Newcastle after his camp were approached over a possible move, according to reports in Germany.
Newcastle are ready to splash the cash after the Premier League approved a £305million Saudi-backed takeover at St James’ Park last month, with Mike Ashley’s controversial 14-year reign as owner coming to an end.
The north east outfit are yet to find a managerial replacement for Steve Bruce, but have begun drawing up a transfer wishlist as they prepare for a busy January window.
Several high-profile attacking players have been linked – including the likes of Eden Hazard, Philippe Coutinho, Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling – and the club will also look to strengthen at the other end of the pitch with a view to fixing their leaky defensive record.
Bottom-of-the-table Norwich are the only team to have conceded more goals (25) than Newcastle (23) in the English top flight this season and Bayern defender Sule is being eyed as a potential solution for the Magpies.
Sport Bild’s Christian Falk reports that Newcastle opened talks to sign Sule around three weeks ago, adding that the 26-year-old is ‘interested’ in the project at St James’ Park.
It’s claimed Sule has ‘no problem’ with the fact the Toon are not competing in Europe.
Sule is out of contract at the end of the season and Bayern have made little progress in their attempts to tie the 6 ft 5 in centre-half down with a new deal.
The Germany international has started eight of Bayern’s opening ten matches in the Bundesliga this season, with the champions holding a one-point advantage over second-placed Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.
Alan Shearer is hoping Newcastle bring in reinforcements ‘straight down the spine’ this winter and feels his former club should prioritise signing a centre-back, a creative midfielder and a goalscoring forward.
‘I think we could definitely do with players straight down the spine. Defensively, they’ve been really poor. They’ve conceded lots of goals and it’s only Norwich alongside them in terms of conceding the number of goals,’ the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer recently told ¡Qué Golazo!.
‘Newcastle have got one of the worst defences in the league so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what they need. They need a defender or two, preferably a centre-back.
‘They certainly need a creative midfielder and without Callum Wilson… Callum’s career will tell you that he’s going to pick up injuries now and again and he’s not going to play every game.
‘There’s no doubt they need another forward who can put the ball in the back of the net to try and take the burden away from Wilson both when he’s playing and when he’s not playing.
‘So three players, the priority, would without doubt be a centre-half, a creative midfielder and a forward to put the ball in the back of the net.’
MORE : ‘It’s a strange choice’ – Ruud Gullit fears former Arsenal boss Unai Emery will flop at Newcastle United
MORE : Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini reveals what he said to Cristiano Ronaldo after late Manchester United equaliser
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Football News Click Here
