Newcastle should take advantage of Stoke City loan deal to end LB woes

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Newcastle are desperate to add a left-back to their squad.

It is no secret that Newcastle United are on the lookout for a new left-back. Their long-standing interest in Chelsea youngster Kenedy remains, while a move for Crystal Palace outcast Pape Souare is expected.

Bu the Toon are yet to complete a signing to bolster the left side of their defence, which sees Wales international Paul Dummett remain first choice despite the Toon academy product struggling in the Championship last season.

Furthermore, his contract at St. James’ Park is set to expire at the end of the season, with Benitez also looking to offload Massadio Haidara with the Frenchman yet to play in the Premier League this term. He is reportedly interesting FC Utrecht.

It means Newcastle’s need for a left-sided defender is two-fold. One, they desperately need quality at left-back, with Dummett rigid and poor going forward. Two, they need cover.

Relegation rivals Stoke City have appointed manager Paul Lambert after sacking Mark Hughes, and he has moved quickly to make his first signing with BBC Sport claiming Augsburg left-back Kostas Stafylidis will sign within the next 24 hours.

The Greece international’s presence is expected to push Erik Pieters down the pecking order, and now Newcastle should finally land the 18-time Holland international’s signature, seven years after missing out.

The Chronicle claimed back in 2011 that Newcastle were “closing in” on a fresh-faced Pieters from PSV Eindhoven, but a move fell through and Stoke landed the defender two years later.

Now, an experienced Premier League defender with 157 top-flight appearances under his belt in England, Pieters could be looking for a new challenge to guarantee game time following the signing of Stafylidis and the presence of Josh Tymon.

Although he has been sidelined with a hamstring injury in five of Stoke’s last six Premier League matches, Pieters is expected to return to fitness ahead of deadline day and Benitez must look to land the Dutchman to finally end his left-back woes.