Sunderland missed out on Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji in January but Newcastle United hope to strike it lucky a year on.
Newcastle United seem to be making a habit of targeting players who have been linked with Sunderland earlier on in 2017.
Turkish paper Hurriyet reported last week that The Magpies had been impressed by Besiktas midfielder Tolgay Arslan as they scouted the club’s Champions League clash with Monaco.
At the start of the summer, Sunderland turned down the chance to sign the former Germany Under-21 international as part of the deal Besiktas put forward to bring Jeremain Lens to Istanbul, as reported by the Northern Echo.
And ten months after The Chronicle claimed that Sunderland manager David Moyes had enquired about the prospect of signing Anderlecht centre-back Kara Mbodji, the 49-cap Senegal international has now emerged as a target for north east neighbours Newcastle United.
Turkish Football reports that up to seven sides have held talks with Mbodji’s representatives, including Newcastle, Leicester City, Swansea, Crystal Palace and Brighton.
“Kara has attracted a lot of interest from Premier League sides, we held talks with representatives from those clubs in London last Sunday,” agent Ediz Balkan admitted.
The report adds that Belgian giants Anderlecht want to keep hold of Mbodji but will sell for the right price, understood to be around £10 million.
Newcastle, then, will be hoping that supposedly cash-strapped owner Mike Ashley can sell the club to a wealthier investor by the time the January transfer window rolls around.
Because, like Sunderland, Newcastle may be fearful that the 6ft 3ins centre-back could prove to be out of their price range.
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