90Min’s German website report that Newcastle United are back in for Bayer Leverkusen left-back Mitchel Bakker as well as his teammate Moussa Diaby – amid reports that Newcastle were ‘expecting’ to sign him for £16m last summer.
Bakker, 22, joined PSG from Ajax and clocked up 37 senior outings – before switching to Leverkusen in the summer of 2021. Since then, he has been first choice on the left of Leverkusen’s defence – clocking up 56 games for the Germans.
Last summer, The Mail reported that Newcastle were ‘expecting’ to sign the uncapped Netherlands ace just a year after he had joined Leverkusen. A fee of £16m was on the table. But a move fell through and he has remained at Leverkusen.
Now, it appears interest in Bakker on Tyneside has not subsided. The Toon are back in for the ex-PSG and Ajax man as they look for a long-term replacement for Dan Burn. A previous report says he has fallen out with boss Xabi Alonso.
Newcastle back in for Leverkusen left-back Bakker as well as Diaby
Indeed, the prior report from 90Min claim that Bakker is considered a ‘problem child’ and that it will see Leverkusen consider a sale for him this summer. But there is no doubt he is an excellent player, with massive potential on the left.
Not only that, but he is a player Sven Botman knows well. A regular alongside the Toon centre-back in the Under-21 side with Netherlands. With Botman playing on the left of two centre-backs, he would link up with left-back Bakker.
So, Newcastle are back in for Bakker as they attempt to find competition for Burn. But, it does mean that it is more than likely Matty Targett and Jamal Lewis will be told they have little future on Tyneside – if Bakker signs for the Toon.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
