Newcastle ‘close’ to agreeing new deal – but summer signing still wanted..
Newcastle United are ‘close’ to securing a first-team player to a new contract after making a breakthrough in talks.
Negotiating contracts in the closing months of the season is a key task for Magpies’ sporting director Paul Mitchell who has eight within the Toon ranks contracts currently expiring at the end of the season.
One load is set to be off Mitchell’s plate soon as talks with a current starter enter the final stages, but the sporting director is still expected to swoop for a player in the same position to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad nevertheless…
Centre-back set to sign
According to Mark Douglas at the i, Newcastle look set to announce a new contract for Fabian Schar.
He reports that the veteran defender is now ‘close’ to signing a new deal at the club following talks between Mitchell and the Swiss’ representatives.
The 33-year-old has aged like a fine wine for the most part and has been a vital part of Eddie Howe’s set-up in the last couple of seasons.
Though there have been some signs of decline from the centre-back in recent weeks, Schar can certainly still do a job in the side, especially if we also have European football to contend with next season.
One of the best bits of business we have conducted, Schar has made over 200 appearances in black-and-white after arriving for £3.2m in 2018 and can still be a very good squad player at the very least – but he needs fresh competition, with our defensive options currently rather slight.
Howe still eyeing defensive reinforcements
The in insist that Newcastle will look to the transfer market for a “fresh injection of energy” into their centre-back options, despite nearing a deal for the experienced Swiss.
Douglas reports that Toon chiefs have a few names in mind that have impressed at St. James’ Park this season, with two Cherries stars mentioned in his piece.
Dean Huijsen and Ilia Zabaranyi were the centre-back pairing on Tyneside as Bournemouth beat Newcastle 4-1 in January, and both are being looked at by Newcastle as potential replacements, according to Douglas, with 19-year-old Huijsen, who played on the left of the pair that Saturday, capable of playing with both feet.
Sporting director Mitchell has separate approaches depending on our European status. ‘Plan A’ are options to be considered should we secure Champions League football, with a second list of names should we miss out – again highlighting the importance of a return the continent’s elite competition.
