Howe might land his ideal Botman companion in Newcastle’s £34 million “Rolls-Royce”
The bolstering of the backline may be given top priority by the Magpies next.
But manager Eddie Howe will recognize the value of ongoing development. Newcastle United just keep laying the foundation, and it’s becoming more and more obvious that St. James’ Park will host European nights for many years to come.
Although the PIF club takeover gave the Magpies the financial resources to reinforce the team with a number of new players, it was the diligent effort in the transfer market that led to a fourth-place Premier League finish the previous season.
That allowed for the return of Champions League football after a 20-year absence, bringing the league to the forefront of the sport with a stunning ascent that exceeded the anticipated rate of advancement two years prior.
The following season saw the joy of renewed success thanks to the outstanding transfer activity fusing with the Englishman’s tactical vision on the field, with Howe navigating away from relegation danger in 2021/22.
The club’s efforts were focused on the defense in particular, and Newcastle actually finished the Premier League season with the league’s joint-best defense, allowing 33 goals alongside Manchester City.
Sven Botman has served as the team’s backbone and leader in the back, while Fabian Schar has been crucial to Howe’s Tyneside Renaissance.
However, the contract for the 31-year-old Swiss international and captain Jamal Lascelles expires next summer, so it’s becoming obvious where the focus will be when the best course of action is determined.
Newcastle is looking to sign whom?
Emile Smith Rowe, an Arsenal midfielder, has recently been linked to a move to Newcastle. The talented player would surely give the St. James’ Park team new energy and provide a dynamic threat to add another dimension to their offensive attempts.
The Northern Echo reports that the Arsenal star, who was dissatisfied after his last Premier League start came in the season’s penultimate game, is on the Toon hierarchy’s radar this January.
The three-cap England international is most likely to move on loan, and while this is an intriguing prospect for Newcastle, the knowledge that Jean-Clair Todibo is on the club’s radar is even more fascinating.
Indeed, according to Spanish reports, the OGC Nice center back is a target for the Toon. Howe hopes to strengthen his team’s position of strength by making a long-lasting, quality defensive acquisition.
Newcastle may need to move quickly to attract the player with a package after Manchester United chased him for a fee of about €40 million (£34 million) in the summer, but considering the club’s rapidly growing stature, this is more than doable.
Why is Jean-Clair Todibo of interest to Newcastle?
As was already established, Lascelles and Schar are both in their final year of competition in the North East of England. Despite not being a regular starter, Lascelles has been crucial this year because Botman has been sidelined for five games due to injury.
This season, however, Schar has stepped up to fill the Dutchman’s shoes and has been praised for his “magnificent” performances by Craig Hope of the Daily Mail.
The extension of the former Basel player’s contract might come after the recent one-year extension of Callum Wilson’s contract, and the Northern Echo reports that preliminary talks have already begun to reward Schar for his contributions over the past two years under Howe.
Despite this, it would be wise to strengthen the backline even more, and Todibo, dubbed a “Rolls-Royce” by journalist Antonio Mango, seems to be a custom-made selection, boasting the kind of playing style to slot sweetly into life on Tyneside while competing for one of the most ambitious projects in all of Europe.
