Newcastle United are now ready to make LOSC Lille an offer to seal a last-ditch transfer for Tiago Djalo. The Toon are eager to bring in a new defender in the final days of the window.
That is according to Foot Mercato, which reports Djalo could now become the latest player to leave Lille in January. The Ligue 1 club have been quiet in the mid-season market having only made one signing. But they have already parted with a handful of talents this month.
Now, Newcastle are exploring a move to prise Djalo from Lille with Eddie Howe set to table a transfer offer. The Magpies are willing to pay in excess of €20m (£17.5m) for the 22-year-old centre-half to go to St James’ Park. Les Dogues spent just €4m (£3.5m) for him in 2019.
Djalo joined Lille from Sporting Lisbon on a five-year, £7.5k-a-week contract running up to June 2024. He is yet to extend those terms despite holding a vital place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The Amadora-born ace has also featured in senior Portugal sides since last March.
He is still to debut with the Selecao first-team but has earned caps at Under-17, 18, 19 and 21 levels. Djalo has also amassed 94 appearances with Les Dogues so far, including 18 this season. The centre-half has started in 17 of the Hauts-de-France outfit’s 19 Ligue 1 games.
Newcastle can now reunite Djalo and Botman with a transfer from Lille
Djalo had not made his senior debut before joining Lille in 2019. Although his arrival at the club was somewhat controversial having spent the previous eight months at AC Milan. Per Football Italia, he terminated his contract with Sporting but the club sought compensation.
Reports by O Jogo before Djalo linked up with the Rossoneri’s Primavera squad also noted that Lazio, Manchester City and West Ham United had all expressed an interest. Now, the Portuguese enforcer could finally head to the Premier League as Howe targets his services.
Djalo securing a last-gasp transfer to Newcastle will also reunite the defender with his old Stade Pierre-Mauroy teammate, Sven Botman. Howe raided Les Dogues for the Dutchman last July and struck a £35m deal having marked the 23-year-old as his top defensive target.
Botman played 43 games beside Djalo in the Lille backline and won Ligue 1 together during 2020/21. They played in the team together 15 times en route to the French top-flight title. While Botman has since played 24 games for Newcastle, including 18 league appearances.
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