Lee Ryder: Newcastle now send scouts to watch 'exemplary' player; he's been likened to Van Dijk

Newcastle United have reportedly now sent scouts to watch Hungary international defender Attila Szalai ahead of a potential move in the summer.

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, journalist Lee Ryder has revealed that the St. James’ Park faithful are now preparing fresh bids for both Sven Botman and Diego Carlos, having missed out on them in the January transfer window.

Gleison Bremer from Torino is also thought to be on their shortlist, as they look to sign a new central defender this summer.

As per Ryder, the North East club have also been ‘tracking’ Szalai, and scouts from Tyneside have been sent to watch him play for Fenerbahce in recent games.

However, they will face competition from Aston Villa and AC Milan for his signature.

Szalai would arguably be a big upgrade on the options that Eddie Howe currently has at his disposal.

Nicknamed the ‘Hungarian Van Dijk‘, the six-foot-four colossus is averaging more tackles and passes at a higher success rate than Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles in their respective domestic leagues so far this season (WhoScored), and is also considerably younger than his counterparts at 24.

Former Magpies star and Fenerbahce legend Emre Belozoglu thinks that Szalai is an ‘exemplary‘ player, and so the Toon would do very well to fend off the competition to sign him.

In other news, find out which imminent signing NUFC are about to make here!

Source