Forget Souare, Newcastle should land another Crystal Palace defender

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Newcastle are reportedly interested in Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare.

Newcastle United have been repeatedly linked with Crystal Palace defender Pape Souare this month as Rafa Benitez’s search for a left-back continues.

Sky Sports claim that the Spanish boss has also been interested in a move for Chelsea left-footer Kenedy throughout the season as well as Souare, and remains interested in taking the out-of-favour Brazilian to St. James’ Park.

But both Souare and Kenedy have suffered a lack of game time this season, and Newcastle need players that can hit the ground running in order to keep them afloat ahead of a relegation dogfight come the end of the season.

Though 27-year-old Souare is not the answer to bolster the Toon defence, another Crystal Palace defender is in out-of-contract star Joel Ward as his future continues to be clouded in doubt.

Ward is set to see his current Selhurst Park deal expire in the summer, despite being a mainstay at Palace before suffering a groin injury that has seen him miss the Eagles last eight Premier League matches.

However, he is nearing a return to full fitness and if Benitez is finally given some cash to spend, he should look to lure Ward to Tyneside in a cut-price deal as Palace will want to avoid losing him on a free in the summer.

A consistent Premier League performer, Ward has racked up 158 top-flight appearances in England during his time with Palace, and offers versatility across the whole defence. Left-back is where he would be needed most, but if an injury occurs at right-back or centre-back, he can fill in.

Ward boasts power and an aerial prowess defence, but regularly shows guile and precision when getting forward and he is more than capable of whipping an attacking cross into the box.

Landing Ward would be a huge improvement on current first-choice left-back Paul Dummett, who is out of contract himself on Tyneside. His versaility would be crucial in keeping the Toon in the Premier League.