Newcastle United now hope to sign fresh competition for Fabian Schar during the summer transfer window. Eddie Howe is eager to strengthen the Toon’s impressive defensive core.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports Howe wants to sign another centre-back to keep Schar honest. The 31-year-old has been a mainstay of the Magpies’ backline so far this season. But the St James’ Park outfit will strive to keep the Swiss enforcer on his toes.
Schar has started in 22 of Newcastle’s 24 Premier League games so far this season. Howe omitted the centre-half from his side at Manchester City last Saturday as club medics erred on the side of care after his head collision with Lisandro Martinez in the Carabao Cup final.
Fabian Schar has been a mainstay of Newcastle’s defensive plans so far this season
While Schar played the full 90 minutes at Wembley, Newcastle took into account his prior history with concussions. So, Howe opted against risking the 75-cap international and gave Jamaal Lascelles a rare outing. It was the Toon captain’s first league fixture since October.
Howe had not tackled a top-flight game without Schar starting since losing 2-1 at Liverpool in August. He benched the defender at Anfield as he received three yellow cards over their opening four games. Yet Schar and Sven Botman would emerge as a real force afterwards.
No Premier League club has conceded fewer goals so far this season than the mere 17 that Newcastle have shipped. Title-rivals Arsenal and Manchester City in 26 games and Chelsea in 25 matches have allowed the next fewest number of goals so far this term with 25 each.
Eddie Howe wants to sign another centre-back in the summer sales
Yet despite Schar and Botman’s work together, Howe wants to sign another centre-back in the summer transfer window for Newcastle. The Toon backed Howe’s defensive vision last summer after agreeing to pay LOSC Lille £35m to sign his No1 centre-back target, Botman.
Now, Howe wants another fresh face who can compete with Botman, Schar, Lascelles and – when needed – Dan Burn. Whilst Newcastle possess the Premier League’s best defensive record, they have not kept a clean sheet during their last six games across all competitions.
Schar has blown some of his Newcastle teammates away this season with his efforts under Howe. Matt Targett was effusive with praise for the Swiss enforcer back in August after his goal against Nottingham Forest. He unleashed a spectacular shot from the edge of the box.
“He’s a special player,” Targett told NUFC TV. “He’s technically an unbelievable player. I’ve seen it before when he’s gone on some mazy run and scored. So I know he’s got it in his locker. But it was an unbelievable strike and that got things going.”
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