Report: Newcastle receive boost to sign £11m ace who was once at Sunderland

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Lyon are reportedly struggling to commit Jason Denayer down to a new contract, with Newcastle United interested in the Belgian centre-back.

According to RMC Sport, the Ligue 1 side are finding it difficult to reach a new agreement with the 26-year-old defender, with Denayer, now looking likely to leave Lyon at the end of this season when his contract expires.

Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reported last week that Newcastle had started making moves to sign Denayer, who could be a welcome addition to the Magpies next season given his defensive qualities and consistent performances for both club and country.

The Toon only signed one centre-back last month in Dan Burn. And whilst Newcastle’s defence has improved massively since the January window, improvements are still needed. And Denayer, who Lyon signed for €13.5m (£11m) as per the club’s official website, could be ideal given his contract situation.

The former Manchester City academy graduate is an ex-teammate of Bruno Guimaraes, with the duo spending two seasons together in Lyon before the midfielder’s January move to Newcastle last month. And the Belgian defender, who also spent a year on loan with rivals Sunderland, could now make a similar move based on this contract update.

Indeed, Denayer would be an improvement to central defence over what Newcastle’s current options are, with the defender bringing top-flight experiences and international pedigree with Belgium, and the Toon should be looking to bring him in for free.

Denayer contract update opens the door for Newcastle move

The upcoming summer is set to be a huge one for Newcastle, and based on their moves in January, we can expect some big-money transfers from the northeast side as well as some smart pick-ups within the market, which is what makes Denayer’s contract situation an interesting prospect.

The former Galatasaray and Sunderland loanee has developed into a solid defender during his time with Lyon, and with the club now struggling to commit him to a new contract, Denayer could return to England for good with Newcastle in the race to sign the centre-back.