Newcastle United are reportedly now ‘eyeing’ a move to sign Marcos Senesi in the January transfer window.
The Lowdown: No Botman?
Sky Sports have reported that the St. James’ Park faithful have had a second bid rejected for Sven Botman, with Lille valuing him closer to £35m.
Despite their riches, it is a lot of money to pay for a player in January, and so the North East club may now look at other targets in the centre-back position, with Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile being mentioned as a potential alternative.
Nonetheless, with Kieran Trippier already through the door and Chris Wood looking like he will follow, it is set to be a very busy window for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium.
The Latest: Senesi eyed
As per journalist Pete O’Rourke, the Tyneside outfit, as well as Brighton and Hove Albion, are now ‘eyeing’ up a move for Senesi, as they look to strengthen their options in the heart of the defence.
The Magpies have the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League this season, and so bringing in a new centre-half will be one of the priorities for the new owners over the next few weeks.
The Verdict: Get it done
If Botman becomes unattainable, then Senesi could be a cheaper and in some ways maybe even better alternative.
Nicknamed ‘The Gladiator’ by Feyenoord fans, the six-foot-one colossus is exactly the kind of character needed for a relegation battle, and at 24 years of age, still has his best years ahead of him.
Comparing him to Botman in their respective domestic leagues so far this term, Senesi actually averaged more tackles and interceptions per game, while he has also chipped in with two goals and two assists from centre-back (WhoScored).
Nonetheless, he could be a great alternative to Botman, should they be able to get a deal over the line.
In other news, find out who NUFC are now set to bid for here!
