Newcastle United have been linked with two centre backs – both left-footed.
Newcastle United are in the market for new signings under Steve Bruce, but centre back maybe wouldn’t have been a key area for supporters.
The Magpies need help in attack after losing Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez, so there will have been real shock when Newcastle were linked with a couple of defenders this weekend.
Firstly, The Sun reported that Bruce wants Preston North End defender Ben Davies, having been impressed with his displays in the Championship.
Then, The Northern Echo added that Bruce is keen on Ben Gibson too, having admired the Burnley defender back from his Middlesbrough days.
Yet with Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Federico Fernandez in the mix, fans would argue that centre back is the last position Newcastle need help in.
However, Davies and Gibson are set apart as they’re both left-footed, and that may not be a coincidence, given that all of Newcastle’s centre backs are right-footed, and left back Paul Dummett was subsequently used as a centre back in parts last season.
It’s particularly important when playing three centre backs – as Rafael Benitez often did – to have that balance of a left-footer, and Newcastle currently lack that outside of switching Dummett.
The interest in the pair may be a nod towards Bruce keeping that three at the back setup, but just tweaking it ever so slightly to bring in a natural left-footer.
With Fernandez out of contract next summer, a new centre back may not be that bizarre of a move after all – especially if it’s with the specific idea in mind of signing a left-footer to aid the three at the back.
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