Newcastle are in talks to sign £35m-rated Monaco centre-back Benoit Badiashile after failing in move for Lille’s Sven Botman… with Eddie Howe desperate to bolster his struggling defence to boost survival hopes
- Newcastle have opened talks over highly-rated 20-year-old
- Defender has attracted interest from West Ham, Wolves and Manchester United
- Magpies struggling to reach deal for Sven Botman despite upping bid to £30m
- Eddie Howe wants to add two central defenders to his team in January window
Newcastle United are holding talks with Monaco over a move for centre-back Benoit Badiashile.
The highly-rated 20-year-old has attracted interest from West Ham, Wolves and Manchester United in recent months and has come into focus for Newcastle as they struggle to reach agreement with Lille for Sven Botman, despite increasing their £30million bid.
Eddie Howe wants two centre-backs and discussions are also continuing with Sevilla for 28-year-old Brazilian Diego Carlos.
Newcastle are holding talks with Monaco over a move for centre-back Benoit Badiashile
The defender has attracted interest from West Ham, Wolves and Manchester United
France U21 international Badiashile is valued around £35m and negotiations are ongoing as Newcastle run a number of parallel negotiations while they also have the potential of a loan deal for Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti.
They also want two strikers with Callum Wilson out injured, a left-back and a midfielder.
Lille centre back Sven Botman (left) tops the Magpies wish list of defenders
Callum Wilson sustained a calf injury in the 1-1 draw against Man United on December 27
Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak, who is a target for Arsenal also, would be their ideal addition, but with time pressing they have spoken to Marseille about a £15m deal for Bamba Dieng and to Zenit St Petersburg regarding a £5m offer for prolific Iranian Sardar Azmoun.
Newcastle have also discussed moves for midfielders Yves Bissouma at Brighton and Boubacar Kamara of Marseille but face competition on both.
Newcastle will consider letting Sean Longstaff go to Everton if they can get midfielders in.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk