Borussia Dortmund are reportedly interested in signing Newcastle United target Nico Schlotterbeck, who is expected to be on the move this summer.
According to Sky Germany, the Freiburg star has emerged as an option for Dortmund ahead of the transfer window, with the Bundesliga side eager to improve their defence after a poor season of keeping goals out of the net.
Schlotterbeck is also on the radar for Newcastle as reported by Sport1, with Eddie Howe’s side keen to improve on their backline as the Magpies aim to build a squad that can start rising from the pits of the Premier League.
Indeed, Newcastle had for some time been viewed as the favourites to sign Schlotterbeck, however, Dortmund’s interest in the 22-year-old could cause some problems, with Marco Rose’s side already beating the Toon to Niklas Sule on a pre-contract signing.
The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the northeast, yet Dortmund swooped in out of nowhere to sign Sule ahead of next season, and the German giants could well do it again this summer for Schlotterbeck.
The German international has been outstanding for Freiburg this season, yet with the Bundesliga side only valuing the defender at €20m (£16m), Newcastle could be tempted to spend big on Schlotterbeck to ensure he ends up in the Premier League and not at Dortmund.
Schlotterbeck could be a sensation if Newcastle beat Dortmund
Defence should be Newcastle’s main priority this summer with Howe already making rapid improvements to the backline in the form of Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier, and Schlotterbeck could be another outstanding addition if the Toon can beat Dortmund.
After all, Dortmund can offer European football that Schlotterbeck is yet to experience in his young career, yet if Newcastle go big on trying to sign the German, they could land one of Europe’s most exciting centre-backs.
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