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<p>All under €40 million</p>
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alt="No Scalvini? No problem - Five U23 central defenders Newcastle could sign this summer"
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title="No Scalvini? No problem - Five U23 central defenders Newcastle could sign this summer">
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">While several top Premier League clubs have already started securing new players for the upcoming season at significant costs, England's wealthiest club, Newcastle United, has yet to make any moves in the current transfer window. Owned primarily by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the club's only addition so far has been the 18-year-old winger Antoñito Cordero, who joined for free from Malaga. However, that situation is expected to change shortly.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">As reported by various sources, the Geordie club is actively seeking a new central defender. With only 25-year-old Sven Botman as their under-30 option in defense, Eddie Howe's squad is in need of reinforcements. While experienced players like Fabian Schär (33), Dan Burn (33), and captain Jamaal Lascelles (31) provide reliability in defense, the team recognizes the necessity to inject youth and talent into their backline. Nevertheless, finding the right fit has proven challenging.</p>
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<p dir="ltr">Newcastle has encountered difficulties in signing a suitable central defender. According to <em>Gazzetta dello Sport</em>, efforts to secure Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini have been thwarted, as the club has declared their young talent “unsellable” this summer. Attempts have also been made to recruit Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, Gonçalo Inácio from Sporting, and Bayern Munich's Min-jae Kim. Despite these setbacks, Newcastle's coaching staff, led by Howe, can find assistance from Transfermarkt. Here are five central defenders aged 23 or younger with market values under €40 million that could be wise acquisitions for the club this summer.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Castello Lukeba - RB Leipzig</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">First on our list is Castello Lukeba, a player linked to various clubs this summer. Since his transfer from Lyon to RB Leipzig in 2023, Lukeba has showcased impressive development, establishing himself as a standout defensive talent in the Bundesliga, akin to his predecessors Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté. With Leipzig missing out on Champions League football this season, they may need to sell players to address financial gaps, putting Lukeba on the market for the right price. However, Newcastle would face competition from clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich for his signature.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">António Silva - Benfica</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">Next is Benfica's António Silva, a young defender making waves for a move to the Premier League. After completing his third full season with the Portuguese giants, Silva has quickly become a formidable central defender with signs of becoming a top player. While he may lack the physicality of Burn or Schär, his dribbling, passing, and strong one-on-one defending could complement Newcastle’s current defensive lineup perfectly.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Cristhian Mosquera - Valencia</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">If Newcastle wants to adopt a more aggressive approach in the transfer market, they should consider Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia. The young defender is likely to leave the La Liga side after rejecting a contract extension that expires next season. Arsenal has shown interest, reportedly submitting a second offer, although it appears low at just €10 million. This situation offers Newcastle an opportunity to step in with a better offer for a promising defender known for his influence at the back and solid defensive abilities.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Renato Veiga - Chelsea</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">If Newcastle wants to avoid bidding wars with domestic rivals, they might find a solid option in Chelsea’s Renato Veiga. Chelsea is reportedly undergoing a fire sale this summer, and while Veiga has yet to make a significant impact at Stamford Bridge, he has shown promise during his loan at Juventus. With Juve looking to secure him permanently and Bayern also monitoring the situation, Chelsea's asking price of around €25 million for the 21-year-old represents an attainable and potentially shrewd investment for Newcastle.</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">Taylor Harwood-Bellis - Southampton</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">Lastly, we have Southampton's Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Whether during his loan spell at Burnley or since arriving at Southampton permanently for €23 million last summer, Harwood-Bellis has proven to be a promising young talent capable of competing in the Premier League. Reports suggest that the 23-year-old defender is eager to remain in the English top-flight despite Southampton's relegation, with Burnley reportedly looking to loan him with an option to buy. An approach from Newcastle would certainly appeal more to him if Howe identifies the Southampton standout as a valuable addition for the upcoming season.</p>
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