'NUFC have looked at' - Edwards reveals 'monstrous' new Carlos alternative with huge potential

Southampton’s Mohammed Salisu is one of the players Newcastle United have considered during the January transfer window, The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has revealed. 

Newcastle are reportedly looking at domestic alternatives to their top centre-back target, Sevilla’s Diego Carlos, as the La Liga outfit hold firm in their demands (via The Athletic).

Salisu moved to England relatively recently, joining Saints from Real Valladolid in August 2020 for a fee of £10.8million. The 22-year-old, now valued at £9million by Transfermarkt, signed a contract that runs until the summer of 2024.

Salisu has been a regular under Ralph Hasenhuttl this season, starting 20 of their 23 Premier League matches.

Edwards tweeted on Monday afternoon that ‘NUFC have looked at’ the Ghanaian defender.

However, he ‘was told last week’ that the move didn’t look ‘possible’ in January.

It’s tempting to wonder if Salisu’s sensational performance in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with league leaders Manchester City has only inflated his price tag.

Salisu made more clearances (14), tackles (seven), interceptions (four) and blocks (three) than anybody else, earning a place in Alan Shearer’s Team of the Week.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig called it a ‘monstrous performance’, while The Express’ Charlie Gordon wrote that he deserved a ‘boxing licence’ after taking a ball to the chin and soldiering on.

He’s still young, and on the evidence of that display, it’s hard to dispute BBC journalist Tom Murray‘s claim that ‘he has a frightening amount of potential’, so perhaps the Magpies should stump up a big offer and see how the south coast outfit respond.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano dropped a big NUFC transfer update on Monday morning.

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