Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck has indicated he’s open to a Premier League move with Newcastle United keen on the Bundesliga ace, speaking to Sport BILD.
Newcastle could do a lot worse than take a leaf out of Freiburg’s book.
Money only takes so far after all. If the newly-minted Magpies are to transform themselves from relegation dodgers to Champions League chasers, they’ll need a dash of resilience, a spoonful of togetherness and a hearty slice of team-work.
Three attributes that have become synonymous with Freiburg during another season of overachievement in the Black Forest.
Christian Streich’s side have the third-lowest wage budget in the Bundesliga. Not that you’d have guessed it. They’re fifth in the table as it stands, within touching distance of the Champions League and five points off third.
Furthermore, only Bayern Munich have conceded fewer than Freiburg’s 27 goals thus far. And Schlotterbeck, their £17 million-rated German U21 international centre-half, continues to play a major role in a coupon-busting, Europe-pushing campaign.
Will Newcastle sign Nico Schlotterbeck in the summer?
Alongside the likes of Sven Botman and Diego Carlos, Schlotterbeck has emerged as one of Newcastle’s leading centre-back targets.
The Magpies will face plenty of competition when the transfer window opens again, however, with Bayern rumoured to be interested too.
“I will neither say yes nor no,” Schlotterbeck says when asked about those Bayern links.
“I don’t have to comment on everything. I’ve always dreamed of playing in the Bundesliga as a kid. I’m doing that now. But, if at some point I get an attractive offer from England or Spain, I would of course look at it.
“When successful clubs — whether in Germany or abroad — are interested in me, that’s attractive. Just as it was extremely attractive for me to sign for Freiburg four years ago.”
Borussia Dortmund are reportedly keen on Schlotterbeck too. Die Schwarzgelben may have dropped out of the race, however, after landing Niklas Sule in midweek.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are expected to step up their pursuit of a top-level centre-half in the summer. Providing they can build on Tuesday’s superb 3-1 win against Everton and stave off the threat of relegation, of course.
Botman, Lille’s Ligue 1-winning Dutch international, admitted recently that he is intrigued by the prospect of a move to St James’ Park.
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