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Tosin Adarabioyo is set to join Chelsea, which means that we will not be getting an early fix to our defensive concerns. With only Fabian Schar and Dan Burn set to start the season at centre-back, we do need reinforcements. Lloyd Kelly is set to join according to reports, but Eddie Howe will want another signing there to make sure he is well covered.
In a continuation of our transfer pieces discussing potential targets, below we will identify five potential targets for us this summer at centre back.
Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich
The first potential target is Dayot Upamecano, a player we have been loosely linked with in the past. It would be a high profile signing, as he has been a regular for Bayern Munich and France. However, there is a belief that he could potentially be available this summer and it would be a huge statement of intent from the club.
Physically, Upamecano has everything that we will be looking for in a centre back. He is tall and has plenty of strength. The Frenchman wins 2.07 aerial duels per 90 minutes, while he makes 1.99 tackles per ninety minutes. These rank him in the 55th and 84th percentiles respectively. He is aggressive in his defensive work and that would allow him to be a very good fit for us.
Fabian Schar’s strengths in possession aren’t overlooked and Upamecano shares similar ball-playing abilities. That shouldn’t be a surprise given he was schooled in the Red Bull system. The French international averages 7.09 progressive passes and 1.35 progressive carries per ninety minutes. Further to this, his passing accuracy stands at 92.7%. The 26-year-old is elite with the ball and he would immediately improve our team in possession.
His main weakness is his concentration, as Upamecano has been known to make errors that lead to goals. However, a move to a new league could sharpen up his focus and it could provide him with the environment that he needs.
Upamecano would be seen as an ambitious target, but if he is available this…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/06/04/five-centre-backs-newcastle-could-sign-after-tosin-adarabioyo-snub/
Author : Jake Jackman
Publish date : 2024-06-04 06:00:36
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