Newcastle United’s pursuit of a new central defender, with the summer window looming into view, has followed a pretty familiar pattern so far.
With Financial Fair Play regulations preventing The Magpies from splashing those Saudi billions on something shiny, Eddie Howe and co have been forced to lower their sights, shift their focus to less affordable targets, and make use of the bargains that exist on the market.
Fortunately, when it comes to centre-halves, affordability is not really an issue.
HITC understands that Newcastle United are one of the clubs at the front of the queue for AFC Bournemouth’s vice-captain Lloyd Kelly. A free-agent in July, Kelly is known to Howe after working with the cherub-cheeked gaffer on the South Coast.
Tosin Adarabioyo is also entering the final few weeks of his contract. And while HITC have been told that reports of an imminent move to St James’ Park are wide of the mark, Newcastle are one of many clubs keen on the Fulham colossus.
Newcastle United chasing centre-backs this summer
Looking a little further afield, we understand that Newcastle are eyeing two of Argentinian football’s rising talents too. Midfielder Kevin Zenon could be available for just £10 million, while his Boca Juniors team-mate Nicolas Valentini may leave La Bombonera for even less.
As Valentini’s agent explained this week, talks over a new deal have hit the buffers. Unless Boca’s offer changes, they will not be resumed either.
Mauricio ‘Chico’ Serna, the current director of sport at the South American giants, has also spoken out about Valentini situation this week, in an interview with Infobae. And while he plays down the prospect of a summer departure with Valentini’s deal running until December, he doesn’t sound particularly pessimistic about a breakthrough being reached with the Argentina U23 international.
“A negotiation was held and an agreement could not be reached,” Serna sighs, Valentini having been left out of the Boca squad of late due to the situation.
“They are decisions that are made, regardless of where they come from or how they are taken. They are negotiations where one offers something, the other wants something else. There are some that are much easier, there are others that are more complex.
“Now, it is on standby. He has a contract with us until December.”
Nicolas Valentini could leave Boca Juniors on the cheap
Of course, it is easier to say Valentini won’t leave in the summer than to follow through on it. If Newcastle were to stump up a multi-million offer, surely Boca would rather cash in than lose one of their prized assets for nothing a few months later.
“He had a very good season,” Serna adds. “He lived up to expectations. I think that, on an individual level, what we needed was for him to compete and he did it in a very good way. And then last year, negotiations began and they have taken longer than we thought and that’s where we are.
“Everything is possible,” the direction concludes on a more positive note when asked if Valentini will ever play for Boca again. “There is never a definitive ‘no’ in many situations.”
A left-footed centre-half, Valentini could step in for Sven Botman at Newcastle. The towering Dutchman could miss much if not all of 2024 after rupturing his ACL.