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Newcastle United's move to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Mitchel Bakker has broken down again, says transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Magpies have desperately been trying to sign the 21-year-old this month but have struggled so far.

90min recently reported that Newcastle had reignited their interest in signing Bakker as Eddie Howe looks to strengthen his side in the left-back position.

According to them, the Tyneside club had initially backed off after believing that the Dutchman was not keen on a move to St James' Park.

The same report states that Newcastle have since gone back in for Bakker, but it seems that they are struggling to get this deal done for whatever reason.

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The left-back has missed some of Bayer Leverkusen's season due to injury. However, when he has been fit, he has been an important player for Gerardo Seoane after starting 11 league games under the 43-year-old this term.

Newcastle have also been linked with Sassuolo's Rogerio and Aston Villa's Matt Targett, but Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Bakker remains their first choice, though the potential deal to bring him to St James' Park seems to have collapsed.

Speaking to GMS, the football journalist said: "Bakker is the first choice out of him and Rogerio, but it looks like the Bakker deal has broken down again."

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Bakker has come up with a few assists in Bayer Leverkusen's current Bundesliga campaign. He has also managed to score, registering in the impressive 4-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach at the start of the term.

In terms of the defensive side of things, the former Paris Saint-Germain man is averaging 1.3 tackles and one