Newcastle United have lined up Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees as a potential alternative to Grant Hanley, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
It is no secret that Newcastle are currently in the market to sign a new central defender this summer and there have been widespread reports that the Magpies are considering a swoop for Blackburn Rovers skipper Grant Hanley at the moment.
However, Blackburn are a notoriously difficult club to negotiate with and there have been claims that the Lancashire side have already rejected two bids from Newcastle for the Scottish international.
Only time will tell if Tyneside outfit will be able to sign Hanley but manager Rafael Benitez is already preparing for the worst case scenario and according to reports from the Daily Mail (Transfer Live, 15;27, July 14) , the Spaniard has eyed up Sheffield Wednesday star Tom Lees as an alternative to the 24-year-old.
Lees was one of the most consistent defenders in the Championship last season and the Magpies are believed to be open to making a move for the former Leeds United man if they miss out on Hanley.
