Report: Newcastle consider January move for Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic, but face transfer battle with Pardew

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Newcastle United and Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic.

Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic in action

According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are both interested in signing Celtic centre back Jozo Simunovic.

Simunovic, 22, made his name in his native Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb, before making his big move to Celtic in the summer of 2015.

Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic (front) in action

Signed as a replacement for now-Southampon defender Virgil van Dijk, there were high hopes for Simunovic last season, but he struggled with injuries, making just 18 appearances in all competition.

Celtic not only moved to sign Erik Sviatchenko in January, but Brendan Rodgers then swooped to land Kolo Toure as well, having worked with the veteran centre back at Liverpool, leaving Simunovic as the Bhoys’ third-choice central defender.

Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic celebrates scoring

In fact, Simunovic almost left the club on deadline day, but a move to Torino well through, as the Daily Mail note that the Italian side attempted to alter the terms of the deal at the last minute, meaning Celtic cancelled the move altogether.

Ahead of the January transfer window though, the Daily Mail claim that English sides Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are both monitoring Simunovic ahead of possible moves for the player.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew and Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez

Palace spent big on one centre back in the summer by signing James Tomkins from West Ham, but Scott Dann’s recent injury means that manager Alan Pardew may look to ad more depth in defence by signing Simunovic.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have a host of centre backs at their disposal in Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Grant Hanley, but the latter has failed to make much of an impact, and the Magpies may be keeping an eye on Simunovic in case they decide to replace Hanley just months after signing him from Newcastle.

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