Sevilla coach Pablo Sanz is convinced that Diego Carlos will stay at the La Liga challengers, speaking to AS amid interest from Premier League strugglers Newcastle United.
With Sevilla chasing their first La Liga title since 1946 – an ambition undermined by Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Valencia – the Andalusians were never going to let one of their star players go without a fight.
Alongside erstwhile partner Jules Kounde, Carlos is one of the first names on Julen Lopetegui’s team-sheet.
A commanding, committed and (sometimes overly) aggressive central defensive colossus, the late-blooming Brazilian has blossomed into one of Europe’s finest since joining Sevilla from Nantes in 2019.
Newcastle United have have conceded more goals than anyone else in the Premier League this season. And they have identified Carlos as a potential silver-bullet solution to their defensive woes.
The Guardian said on Tuesday that Newcastle had entered ‘advanced negotiations’ to sign Carlos in a potential £30 million deal.
The 28-year-old has asked to leave Sevilla. And it seemed only a matter of time before he was joining Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood at St James’ Park.
Sanz’ comments, however, prove that there is still a lot of work to be done before Carlos can be unveilved in front of the Gallowgate.
Are Newcastle going to miss out on Diego Carlos?
“I hope he will be (here) until the end of the season,” says Sanz, Lopetegui’s assistant coach. “I believe that (he will stay) and I have no other information.”
Newcastle already appear to have given up on their number one centre-back target, Sven Botman. Lille recently confirmed that the Dutchman will be staying at the reigning Ligue 1 champions until the summer.
Reports linking the Magpies with James Tarkowski and Nathan Ake have gone quiet, too. A deal for Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile, meanwhile, has been complicated by the Frenchman’s recent injury problems.
Newcastle are also looking to bring in reinforcements at the other end of the pitch. Personal terms have been agreed on a £100,000-a-week deal with Atalanta’s Duvan Zaparta.
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