It promises to be a busy summer on Tyneside, with PSR woes eased and a number of positions set to be targeted in a bid to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad.

After sharing part one earlier this week on our goalkeeper search, we now turn our attention to centre-back and our ongoing search to find a right-sided option able to compete with and eventually replace Fabian Schar.

Centre Back

In recent weeks it has become abundantly clear that a key section of our squad that requires reinforcement is in the defence.

They can be superb squad players and still have key roles to play, but Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, two of the club’s most loyal and respected servants, have started to decline physically. Although, you would not think this was the case after the pair’s monstrous performances in the final.

Burn’s role of left centre half is arguably less of an issue with Sven Botman close to a return, however, we need greater depth down the right side and competition for a 33-year-old Schar.

This isn’t to say he or Burn should be ushered out the door as both still play pivotal roles and bring an important presence to the dressing room. But, with a lack of depth at our right centre-half position, as Lascelles also looks to be leaving, and pace a potential issue in our ageing back line, Paul Mitchell will almost certainly recruit in this department.

A young, athletic addition to that area would be ideal as a potential player to lock down the position for the next four to five seasons at the very least.

Who will we target?

Our infamous chase for Crystal Palace captain, Marc Guehi, tells you the club also acknowledge this need. A deal may well be revisited for Guehi now he’s approaching the final 12 months of his deal, hopefully at far less than the £70million quoted last summer.

Dean Huijsen of Bournemouth would be my first choice and, after reports of our recruitment team keeping a close eye on that situation, it seems their views align with mine on the ball-playing 19-year-old.

With his very reasonable release clause at £50million, it’s expected many teams will be interested, with Real Madrid and Liverpool already strongly. Therefore, a strong finish to the season, hopefully building on from the cup win high and gaining a Champions League spot would be integral in getting this deal done.

Another name that keeps cropping up his Cherries teammate Illia Zabarnyi, although I can’t see Bournemouth selling both their starting centre-backs in the same window.

Overseas options may include Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, Benfica’s Antonio Silva and AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw; the towering German international who was heavily linked last summer before we pursued Guehi instead.

Who would you like to see us target?