Dutch international 'keen' to join NUFC in January - but Mike Ashley is not convinced - Report

According to the Chronicle's Lee Ryder, summer target Erik Pieters is now keen to make a January move to Newcastle - however it's feared that Rafa Benitez may struggle to convince the board to sign the 30-year-old left-back.

It was reported on deadline day (over the summer) that we had a £2m bid rejected for the Stoke City defender, and it seems he is one of many left-back's Benitez is considering ahead of the January window - however he does not fit into Ashley's strict transfer profile.

A loan move for young PSG defender Stanley N'Soki is also mentioned in the report - something that would no doubt appeal more to Ashley - however Pieters is a player with Premier League experience.

Here's what the Chronicle have had to say about the Dutchman during a report discussing our plans to sign a left-back in the new year:

'Erik Pieters, currently plying his trade for Stoke City in the Championship, is thought to be open to a move to Tyneside.

'But with the former PSV Eindhoven star now in his 30s, Benitez may face a fight to convince his board to part with a big fee for his services.'

Pieters would 'do a job', with him also being a left-back quiet similar to Dummett in terms of size and style of play, however I would argue that we need a more attacking alternative.

Whilst Dummett does a brilliant job of protecting us defensively down that side, he is anything but a modern day full-back in the way he gets forward and supports Kenedy.

With this in mind, a loan move for PSG's more attack minded Stanley N'Soki could give us a slightly different option - and a player that may suit both Ashley and Benitez.

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