Newcastle in race for £25m ‘world class’ star

Newcastle United they have returned to the top of their game over the past month or so, winning seven matches in a row in all competitions.

The revived form in the middle of the season is great and anything but Eddie Howe will be focused on maintaining such fluidity during the business months of the campaign, s Carabao Cup a title to win and Champions League qualification through Premier League highest priority.

Transfer activity isn’t the main thing in January, but it wouldn’t hurt if a player capable of lifting the Magpies squad would be welcome.

Newcastle’s transfer priorities this year

The never-ending battle for a right-back continues, although the need for a fresh face has been dampened by Jacob Murphy’s fine form this season.

It’s Miguel Almiron it is expected to be soldthus freeing up space for such a venture, while 35-year-old Martin Dubravka is expected to hang up his gloves in the Premier League and move to the Saudi Pro League for one last big payday.

However, the biggest concern remains the lack of depth at centre-back. Four offers – the latter totaling £65m – were dumped out at Crystal Palace last summer for Marco Guehi, but Steve Parish’s decision remained irritatingly fixed.

Fabian Schar is in negotiations to extend his contract at St. James’ Park, but Jamal Lascelles, injured this season, will leave when his contract expires in June. Sven Botman recently returned from the knee injury he suffered in March.

Newcastle could do with a little more at the back, especially as they plan for a European future.

Howe interested in La Liga star

Spanish sources revealed that Newcastle are interested in signing Sevilla centre-back Loic Bade this winter, although they will face strong competition from Liverpool.

The report suggests both sides have been ‘closely monitoring’ the defender of late, with the Premier League pair saying they see his signing as a ‘priority’.

United need to strengthen their backline and, while Bade would not come cheap, he is understood to be priced in the region of €30m (£25m), reportedly within Newcastle’s parameters.

What would Loic Bade bring to Newcastle

Bade is a defender in the modern spirit, ranking in the top 12% of central defenders in La Liga this season for assists (0.08), top 1% for successful tackles (0.68) and top 4% for tackles (2.12). ) for 90, according to FBref.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig said he will “be a world-class defender in the future”, at just 24 years old, but already showing high quality and the ability to overcome adversity.

Of course, he has already tasted first league football, in a sense, in the past, signed for Nottingham Forest from French side Rennes on loan in 2022, but has failed to make a single top-flight appearance, suffering from signing overload as the City Ground side look to settle safely in the league after promotion.

He would goes on loan to Sevilla in January 2023, with the rest of history – as they say. Now having made 75 appearances with the Spanish side, Bade won the Europa League and established himself as one of the best defenders in the country.

If Newcastle go ahead and complete the deal, Howe could find himself repeating the neat trick he saw Alexander Isak brought to the club. In 2022 Newcastle signed the Swedish striker from Real Sociedad for £63ma fee that still stands as a club record.

Bade would leave the Spanish scene after starting to unlock his qualities, much like Isak after the 25-year-old striker scored 23 goals in the last two full campaigns in La Liga.

Now an absolute threat in the English league, Howe has shown his talent radar is unerring when he settles on the right player, with Liverpool’s intrigue in Bade’s signature confirming the Magpies’ hopes of the French international’s skills.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher he even went so far as to call Isak “the best striker in the Premier League right now” after his scored 14 goals in 15 appearancesthough it’s true, the eye test gives a more convincing commentary on its quality than the numbers ever will.

Further similarities can be identified through Isak’s failed stint at Borussia Dortmund, which preceded his transfer to Sociedad, as scored one goal and registered one assist through 13 performances in Germany.

Isak’s talent was recognised, but the move came at the wrong time, and the same can be said for Bade at Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle are certainly a quality team, but there is also a grit and determination that acts as a solvent for all the impressive skills and so on and so forth. He said his focus is on success and Newcastle must do business this month, end the lingering regrets of the failed Guehi bid and complete a defensive line that is already strong despite missing some cogs.

Whether Newcastle will succeed in their bid to bolster their backline with this talent remains to be seen, but there is no doubt that he has skills tailor-made for the Premier League and could be a force to be reckoned with at the base of Howe’s system.

Partnered with Botman, United could enjoy quite a dynamic partnership at the back. Bade is hardly similar to Isak, but his acquisition could be something of a repeat for Howe’s side, taking Newcastle one step closer to the pinnacle of European football.