Newcastle United are named as one the clubs interested in signing Konstantinos Mavropanos from Arsenal in the January transfer window by BILD.
Mavropanos to Newcastle?
Newcastle are known to be on the hunt for central defenders, as Eddie Howe looks at strengthening that area of the team.
Newcastle’s current options are plentiful, but there are doubts around almost every single centre-back at the club.
Already the Magpies defensive issues have been evident since Howe took charge, and there is a feeling that signing a new central defender may well be a top priority in the new year.
Mavropanos is currently due to spend the season on loan at Stuttgart, but there could be an opportunity arising for them.
Stuttgart have already agreed a deal with Arsenal which would allow them to sign Mavropanos for around £2 million, they are then thought to be talking of moving him on for £22 million, given the interest.
Good signing?
Newcastle’s problem could be that Borussia Dortmund and West Ham United are also named as interested parties.
Both Dortmund and West Ham, on paper, are more appealing options than Newcastle right now – given their standings in the table.
But it could be that the Magpies can blow either of the pair out of the water financially.
If Newcastle fans had any concerns about signing a player who Arsenal are loaning out – after he made only seven Premier League appearances for them – they should probably park them.
His form in Germany has been nothing short of outstanding, and he was hailed as a ‘gladiator’ by boss Pellegrino Matarazzo recently.
Those are exactly the kind of fighters which Newcastle will need, as they are currently embroiled in a battle against the drop.
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