Newcastle presented with golden opportunity as price for January target more than halves (original) (raw)

Newcastle United could buy one of their January transfer targets for a much cheaper fee in the summer, according to reports.

Defensive reinforcements were the main focus of **the Toon**‘s recruitment in the winter window. Although they purchased Dan Burn and Kieran Tripper and took Matt Targett on loan, it’s not the business they were looking to do.

They will have to make do with it for now. But should they escape Premier League relegation, they will no doubt target more defenders at the end of the season.

Logic suggests they could return for those they missed out on, such as Sven Botman or Diego Carlos.

And another familiar name, Nico Schlotterbeck, may been on the list again. He was a back-up option last month.

Valued at £40m by Bundesliga club Freiburg, the 22-year-old centre-back seemed slightly over-priced with his contract expiring in June 2023.

But according to Sport 1, Schlotterbeck’s price tag is set to drastically drop to just £16m for the next window.

The German youth international has been impressing for the fifth-placed side this season. And they don’t want to risk losing him for free, so look likely to cash in.

Schlotterbeck has also been linked with Bayern Munich, who will require a replacement for Borussia Dortmund bound Niklas Sule.

Newcastle and Tottenham on alert as Lille say Botman will leave

Newcastle and Tottenham will look for Sven Botman this summer as Lille hint player will leave

Earlier this week he was asked by Sport Bild if he had spoken to Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

Schlotterbeck replied: “I will neither say yes nor no. I don’t have to comment on everything.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing in the Bundesliga as a kid. I’m doing that now. But if at some point I get an attractive offer from England or Spain, I would of course look at it.”

Newcastle man rejected move

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Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka with Allan Saint-Maximin

Meanwhile, it’s been revealed Man Utd and Newcastle were both on board with a deadline day swap.

However, the player on the Magpies’ end was surprisingly the one that scuppered the move.

The January transfer market represented the first opportunity for their new Saudi backers to splash the cash. They did just that, forking out around £90m on five new faces.

And as they scrambled for one last signing, they had a proposal rejected by one of their current crop…