Newcastle United are looking to sign a new centre-back in the summer transfer window, and they have already been checking on several players.
According to a report from Sunday Mirror (April 21, page 70), the Magpies are lining up a move for young Juventus centre-back Dean Huijsen.
Newcastle have struggled with injury problems this season. They will also be without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles for the start of next season, with both players suffering from long-term injury issues.
The 19-year-old is currently plying his trade with Serie A club Roma on loan from Juventus. He has made 12 appearances and scored two goals.
While most of his appearances have come from the bench, former Roma boss Jose Mourinho has been particularly impressed with the youngster.
He said Huijsen is one of the ‘highest quality’ prospects in European football and would be a great player in the future.
The teenager wants to prove himself at Juventus, but plenty of top clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, are vying for his signature. The Magpies will reportedly need to pay around £25 million to sign him.
Newcastle have other targets in mind
The Magpies have jumped above Manchester United in the Premier League table, and they aim to qualify for Europe next season.
The problem with Newcastle is that the Magpies need to be smart in the transfer market to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
It will be interesting to see how much they can spend to bolster their squad, as they may have to offload one or two top players.
According to a recent report from talkSPORT, Newcastle are interested in Bournemouth defender Llyod Kelly who will be available as a free agent at the end of the season.
Eddie Howe knows him well from his time at Bournemouth, and getting him on board makes plenty of financial sense.
Huijsen is a fantastic talent, but a big offer will be needed to lure him away from Italy.
