Newcastle United want Attila Szalai with West Ham United also hovering around the Fenerbahce defender ahead of the January window.
The Magpies are linked with a few players every day and it has been that way since their takeover last year.
It will be no different in the run-up to the January transfer window with a host of agents no doubt looking to spark interest in their clients by name-dropping Newcastle.
A rumour that feels that way has now emerged in Turkey with a familiar name linked again.
Newcastle United want Attila Szalai
Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai was linked with Newcastle over the summer and the rumour is now back again.
Turkiye Gazetesi report that Szalai is wanted by Newcastle ahead of the January transfer window.
It’s stated that West Ham United and Leicester City are also keen whilst Bologna fancy taking him to Italy.
The report claims that Szalai ‘has the Premier League in his heart’ and would seemingly fancy moving to England.
Fenerbahce don’t think they can keep Szalai for much longer even though he is contracted to the club until 2025.
Szalai, 24, has been highly-rated for years now and has excelled for Fenerbahce since joining from Apollon Limassol in 2021.
The 6ft 4in centre back has been compared to Virgil van Dijk, which is pretty lofty stuff.
It’s hard to see a move to Newcastle or West Ham at this point though.
Newcastle just spent big money on a left-sided centre back in Sven Botman and still have Dan Burn at Eddie Howe’s disposal.
West Ham did similar over the summer, splashing the cash on Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd.
Botman and Aguerd should be the left-sided centre backs for years to come at Newacstle and West Ham respectively.
Paying up for Szalai now just wouldn’t really make sense and maybe Leicester City is the more realistic destination of those mentioned.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
