Howe may have to do the unthinkable at NUFC as target now becomes available - opinion

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe may have to do the unthinkable and break up the combination of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn as comments have emerged from Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck.

It’s fair to say that under Howe, the Newcastle defence has been transformed.

Not only has Burn received praise for the impact that he has managed to have on the team, with former Newcastle defender Mike Williamson calling him ‘the perfect fit’ for the club, but the two as a duo have also had a big impact in solidifying the defence.

Since they became a partnership in their clash against Aston Villa in February, they’ve only conceded five goals in seven games. It certainly is a far cry from where the club were at the end of January, where they’d conceded 43 goals in 21 games at a rate of more than two a game.

But that duo might be coming to an end next season following comments made by Schlotterbeck.

Schlotterbeck, who was reportedly one of the many options in the middle of defence for Newcastle this past January, has come out and claimed there is a good chance he will not be at his current club come the summer.

Speaking with German outlet Sport 1 (via Goal), he stated: “I signed for a long time back then and still have a contract until 2023. Of course, there’s a possibility that I’ll leave in the summer. A change is very likely, but nothing has been decided yet.”

If he isn’t sure about his future at the club, it might just be the opening that Newcastle United could use to take advantage of and take him away from the German outfit.

Whilst the Burn-Schar partnership has undoubtedly done well at Newcastle, it can’t last forever. With Schar currently at the age of 30 and into the final few months of his deal, it’s a fine line that the