Newcastle United’s search for a centre back has now taken them to Turkey, with Fenerbahce star Attila Szalai now wanted by the Magpies.
That’s according to Sky Sports, who claim that Szalai suddenly finds himself a wanted man midway through the January transfer window.
Newcastle aren’t alone in the chase for Szalai, with West Ham United and AC Milan also believed to be keen.
Szalai’s Fenerbahce contract runs until 2025, but they’re allegedly willing to sell for around €20million (£16.7million).
That’s much cheaper than the likes of Sven Botman and Benoit Badiashile, the other left-footed centre backs Newcastle have been chasing.
Szalai, 23, has already had a path that few have been down.
After starting out with Vasas in his native Hungary, Szalai moved to Austria with Rapid Wien in 2012.
Szalai returned home to Hungary in 2017, and then headed off to Cyprus with Apollon Limassol two years later.
Fenerbahce pounced to land Szalai in January 2021, and he has been developing rapidly ever since, even being called the ‘Hungarian Virgil van Dijk’.
Now a star in Turkey and with the Hungarian national team, Szalai is big, strong and a superb passer, providing exactly what Eddie Howe is seeking.
Szalai may not be as big of a name as Botman or Badiashile, but he has huge potential for the future and fits into Newcastle’s budget.
West Ham are a major threat though, with David Moyes keen to add a left-footed centre back too.
Angelo Ogbonna is out injured for the rest of the season and is on the wrong side of 30 anyway, meaning West Ham may seek to sign his heir.
That could be Szalai, who could still end up in the Premier League despite an alleged Chelsea move seemingly failing to materialise.
Hungary boss Marco Rossi boldly claimed that Szalai to Chelsea was a ‘done deal’, but that move appears to have gone cold.
Newcastle and West Ham are now positioning themselves to try and sign Szalai in what could be a bargain move.
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