It remains to be seen if Newcastle will make any January signings, although it’s been clear for some time that the club are looking to bring in a long-term replacement for Fabian Schar and right-winger.
Our August pursuit of Marc Guehi dominated a frustrating end to the summer, but we seem to be looking at other options after recent links to Abdukodir Khusanov and Jumah Bah; the 6ft 5′ giant currently impressing in Spain.
However, a familiar name could be back on the club’s radar after a recent trip to Portugal for a member of our recruitment team.
Toon scout travels to Lisbon
Portuguese outlet A Bola have obtained a list of scouts who were present to watch Sporting Lisbon’s 1-0 semi-final win over Porto last week, showing Newcastle United had an official in attendance.
Sporting’s Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyökeres – two players who’ve been linked in recent months – combined for the winning goal in Leiria, but it’s suggested that Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande may have been the key player in focus.
With Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov set to join Man City instead, Newcastle will be scouring the market for potential alternatives.
Khusanov is young, right-sided and a player of high potential; a mould which Diomande very much fits, not to mention the fact he’s been consistently linked with a possible move to Newcastle over the past 18 months.
The Chronicle previously revealed that Toon scout Steve Nickson was watching the Sporting star closely last year, suggesting we hold genuine interest in the 21-year-old.
Diomande fits profile
From the outside looking in, Diomande ticks so many boxes. The 6ft 3′ Ivory Coast international is a physical specimen, athletic, right-footed and would add pace to our back line.
The Ivorian has also been praised for his ability to play out from the back, which will be key if any new arrival is to be a long-term replacement for Fabian Schar.
He wouldn’t come cheap, but he’d almost certainly cost less than the £60m+ we were prepared to shell out on Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi over the summer.
With how the team is playing now the priority has to be a right winger who can score goals
TigerMax(Quote)
The defence is solid the midfield is the best in the premiership, just crying out for an outstanding right winger.
TigerMax(Quote)