According to FootballTransfers, Newcastle United are ‘confident’ Crystal Palace will lower their £40m asking price for Joachim Andersen – but the club will move on to other centre-back targets if not.
The same outlet first revealed our interest in the Danish international back in June and have returned with an update, also revealing that we had enquiry for Lewis Hall blocked by Chelsea; who had no intention of selling or helping out a top four rival. Instead, he’s expected to join Palace on a season-long loan.
Back to Andersen, the report states that Eddie Howe sees the 27-year-old as an ideal candidate to compete with Fabian Schar, with the boss valuing his quality on the ball and Premier League experience.
Palace will have to lower their demands, but there’s belief behind the scenes that they will reduce their current £40m price tag – especially if they seal a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou.
Andersen lacks the pace or mobility we’ve been tipped to recruit all summer, yet his profile is very similar to that of Schar’s. His experience, ability to pick out passes from deep and leadership make him a like-for-like option able to take some pressure off the Swiss international; who has missed our last three pre-season games due to a tight hamstring.
FootballTransfers add that personal terms are ‘not expected to be a problem’ should we strike a deal with Palace, although it seems the Eagles will have to reduce their demands considerably to reach that stage.
Last but not least, the report confirms our interest in Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco – confirming the exclusive we released in June – but it’s thought we ‘baulked’ at the asking price quotes for the Italian left-back.
