According to a report from CaughtOffside, Newcastle United closely monitoring Leicester’s Wout Faes and Nottingham Forest’s Nikola Milenkovic as we look to bolster our defence.
We had been targeting a new centre back in the summer with Marc Guehi being primary target, and we may return for him in January, but it’s important to have other options should negotiations once again go south.
Faes has a couple of years of Premier League experience now as well as playing 22 times for Belgium and could be a useful addition to the squad with the likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn ageing. That said, I’m not sure fans would be too happy if we pivoted from a £70m-rated England international to Faes given his mixed record in the top flight.
Milenkovic is a new addition to Forest’s back line. He’s been impressive since arriving from Fiorentina over the summer and shone during his time in Serie A, earning him a £14m move to the City Ground a few months ago.
Personally, I’d take these links with a pinch of salt. Neither would come cheap – the report suggests Faes would cost in the region of £35m with Forest also valuing Milenkovic in excess of £40m – they are both older than Guehi and don’t profile particularly similarly to the Crystal Palace skipper.
Faes doesn’t feel like a genuine upgrade on our current options, let alone Guehi, and paying big money for a Forest defender we could’ve had for £14m just a few months ago also feels unlikely, but only time will tell who we have in mind this Winter.
Wout Faes I’d rather resign Dummett
Milenkovic good player but they’ll want a fortune for him that he isn’t worth.
One of the Milan CB’s would be better Tomori or Thiaw and both way cheaper than either of those other two or Guehi.
I’d prefer Tomori Out of those two but either would be a better buy than the others I mentioned.
Absolutely glorious(Quote)
Guei is not and has never been a £70 million rated player .. only by Steve parish .. Transfermarket have him at £35 million probably less given his awful performance this season …, tomori, Wilfred singo or thiaw much better and cheaper
Mike(Quote)