According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Norwich City’s Jamal Lewis is the club’s number one left-back target this summer – but his £18m price tag could see us explore other options.
As for Bruce’s back-up options, Downie reveals that both Brighton’s Bernardo and PAOK star Dimitris Giannoulis are being looked at as considerably cheaper alternatives.
Here’s what he had to say during a big transfer update live on Sky Sports News this afternoon:
“It’s my understanding that the number one target and the player they do want to bring in here is the Norwich left-back Jamaal Lewis.
“Newcastle did enquire a couple of weeks ago but were put off by the £18m price tag.
“As a result of that, I feel Newcastle have and are looking for other options.
“Bernardo at Brighton could potentially be one of those. A cheaper deal than Jamal Lewis would be.
“Also, a Greek player Dimtris Giannoulis from PAOK. He is one Newcastle could turn to now that it seems that Lewis could be too expensive.”
If anything sums up the battle Bruce is facing in this summer’s transfer market, it’s this, with it seeming like we may end up looking at cut-price alternatives after we were ‘put off’ by Jamal Lewis’ £18m price tag.
One name that isn’t mentioned is Sassuolo star Rogerio, which is a slight surprise given The Athletic’s Chris Waugh recently described him as the clubs ‘top left-back target’ – although he did admit that an asking price of over £10m could see us look elsewhere.
Interestingly, Downie feels the club may look to sign TWO left-backs this summer if Matt Ritchie departed in a deal that saw Callum Wilson sign at St James’ Park, with the 30-year-old having regularly played at left wing-back over the past two seasons.
Elsewhere, Downie believes Hendrick’s arrival all but ends our interest in Boubakary Soumare – the Lille star we made a £35m bid for in January this year – feeling the slashing of Bruce’s budget also makes that deal impossible this summer.
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