Newcastle Joins Premier League Rivals in Race for £30 Million World Cup Defender

Newcastle United needs to sign one, if not two, full-backs, with that an absolute priority for the remainder of the transfer window.

Matthias Jaissle is currently more than short of options on both flanks in defense, and the club is reportedly looking to strengthen both sides of its defense before the new Premier League campaign begins.

The Magpies have now been named among the clubs interested in Club Brugge left-back Joaquin Seys, although they face significant competition for the 21-year-old Belgium international. According to The Sun, Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Benfica and Porto are also monitoring him.

“And Seys is also capturing attention from the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle, as well as Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto,” The Sun reported.

Seys has emerged as one of Club Brugge’s most promising players and established himself as a regular last season, making 25 league appearances and another nine in the Champions League.

Those performances earned him a place in Belgium’s World Cup squad this summer, and he featured during his nation’s quarterfinal defeat against eventual champion Spain.

As things stand, it feels Newcastle’s interest has not advanced as far as that of some of its Premier League rivals, however, with The Sun reporting that Manchester United, Arsenal and Aston Villa have all formally checked on Seys’ availability following extensive scouting, while no such inquiry from Newcastle is mentioned.

“SunSport understands that Man Utd, Arsenal and Aston Villa have all submitted enquiries as to Seys’ availability following extensive scouting,” the outlet reported.

Any attempt to bring Seys to St. James’ Park would not necessarily come cheap either. Club Brugge has the defender under contract for another three years and is reportedly under no pressure to cash in this summer.

“Club Brugge are not in a hurry to sell, with three years remaining on Seys’ contract. And the Belgian side are set to demand €35million (£30m) for their rising star,” The Sun reported.

Seys would definitely provide another option at left-back with Newcastle insisting Lewis Hall is not for sale amid Manchester United’s interest. With Tino Livramento also sidelined with an injury suffered on the verge of the World Cup, Jaissle’s lack of healthy senior full-backs has increased the urgency to reinforce the position as quickly as possible.

At €35 million (£30 million), Seys would represent a substantial investment in another young player. Would you keep spending money on youngsters or should Newcastle prioritize an experienced defender capable of making an immediate impact, even if coming off the bench? Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments section below.