Newcastle might go for Saudi League star on £21.5m a yr as a substitute of Neves

Newcastle United are looking out for a signing to fill a Sandro Tonali-shaped void, and Ruben Neves is not the one Saudi League star being thrown into the combination.

Newcastle switch information

The Magpies have been compelled into the market as soon as the January switch window opens, with Tonali’s ten-month ban appearing as an enormous blow for Eddie Howe.

The Italian will probably be suspended for the rest of the season, and likewise miss Euro 2024 with Italy, and it out of the blue leaves a gaping void in Newcastle’s midfield at a time once they need to progress within the Champions League and safe one other top-finish within the Premier League.

Unsurprisingly, the Magpies are working arduous on discovering a super substitute for Tonali, with a mortgage signing in January wanting the probably end result. Manchester Metropolis and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips has emerged as one participant who has been linked with a transfer to St James’ Park, whereas former Wolves ace Ruben Neves is one other contender to return in.

Yet one more title has now been added to the listing, too, as a report from talkSPORT name-checked a World Cup winner.

Newcastle linked with N’Golo Kante

In keeping with a Newcastle transfer update from talkSPORT, Chelsea legend N’Golo Kante may very well be an alternate choice to Neves in January:

“It’s thought the Magpies, who’re additionally monitoring out-of-favour Manchester Metropolis midfielder Kalvin Phillips, can not afford a everlasting substitute for Tonali in January attributable to FFP restrictions.

“Ex-Chelsea ace N’Golo Kante is one other participant who might come into Newcastle’s pondering as he seems for PIF-owned Al-Ittihad within the Saudi Professional League.”

Kante could be an intriguing signing by Newcastle, with the Frenchman a genuinely iconic participant in his defensive midfield function down the years, proving to be among the best gamers in his place in Premier League historical past.

The 32-year-old has loved a shocking profession, with Kante’s trophy haul completely illustrating the success that he has had, with two Premier League titles and one Champions League crown coming his means, to not point out the small matter of successful the 2018 World Cup with France.

Kante earns approximately £21.5m a year at Al-Ittihad, and whereas he is not fairly the power he as soon as was, with age and accidents catching up with him in recent times, he’s somebody who might nonetheless do an excellent job for Newcastle, offering vitality and high quality in the course of the park.

The France worldwide is a vastly skilled determine, too, which might stand the Magpies in good stead throughout the enterprise finish of the season, and he’s somebody who has been lauded by Joe Cole, who as soon as stated he was even higher than Claude Makelele:

“Kante’s staggering. I am shattered simply watching him. I performed towards him in certainly one of my final video games. I performed with Makelele who I believed was one of the best till I noticed this child. He is bought Makelele plus extras.”

The positives definitely outweigh the negatives in the case of Newcastle signing Kante, with a mortgage transfer till the top of the season making sense. Phillips and Neves are youthful choices, nonetheless, so may very well be higher decisions if a long-term deal is on the desk.