Newcastle United were reportedly keen on Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan.
Newcastle United may have snapped up Federico Fernandez on deadline day, but manager Rafael Benitez seemingly had his eyes on other defenders too.
Fernandez has joined the Magpies from Swansea City, making an instant return to the Premier League as he came Newcastle’s seventh signing of the summer.
The 29-year-old joins Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar, Ki Sung-yueng, Kenedy, Yoshinori Muto and Salomon Rondon at St. James’ Park, boosting Benitez’s defensive options.
With Chancel Mbemba sold to Porto and Florian Lejeune injured, Benitez has been left with Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark as his defenders, with Fernandez now offering additional cover.
However, The Chronicle report that Newcastle did also register an interest in Liverpool defender Ragnar Klavan, only for Benitez to hit a brick wall with the Magpies board about signing him.
Klavan, 32, has turned out for the likes of AZ Alkmaar and Augsburg, and earned a move to Liverpool in the summer of 2016, providing Jurgen Klopp with experienced cover on the cheap.
The Estonian international – who may yet be sold this month according to the Liverpool Echo – a has made 53 appearances for the Reds, and Benitez seemingly saw him as a potential boost to the Newcastle defence.
However, Newcastle fans aren’t impressed with the rumour and are glad Benitez was told he couldn’t sign Klavan, feeling that eventual signing Fernandez is better anyway – and Liverpool supporters shared their sympathy for Benitez as he struggles for backing, with some believing that Klavan can still be good cover for Liverpool this season.
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