Newcastle United is considering a move for Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen as part of Eddie Howe’s efforts to address a deficiency in his squad. According to Sport via Sport Witness, Newcastle United is revisiting the idea of signing Andreas Christensen, a Danish international, during the upcoming January transfer window. Christensen, a 27-year-old standout in La Liga, has become a crucial player for Barcelona, which makes his potential departure from Camp Nou a challenging prospect.
Eddie Howe is eager to address a specific issue within his squad, as he is dealing with a shortage of options in the central defensive position. In a recent cup match against Manchester United, he opted to field six fullbacks and left all his remaining central defenders on the bench.
The injury to Sven Botman has highlighted the team’s limited defensive choices. Currently, Howe is relying on Fabian Schar and the somewhat forgotten club captain Jamal Lascelles to hold the fort at the back, and he is seeking solutions in the January transfer window.
While most reports have emphasized Newcastle United’s need for a midfielder, Howe is also keen on bolstering his midfield. Pursuing Christensen seems like a logical move for the Magpies, but there are complications in securing a deal. When Chelsea lost Andreas Christensen on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, several teams, including some from the Premier League, were interested in signing him. He ultimately joined Barcelona during a tumultuous summer at Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s decision has already paid off, with Christensen establishing himself as a key player under Xavi Hernandez. The Danish star has delivered consistent performances for Barcelona and is widely regarded as their top central defender at present.
Despite spending just over a year in Spain, Christensen has garnered significant interest from English clubs, including Manchester United, who are showing keen interest. Newcastle United is also in the mix, as they reportedly wanted to sign him during the summer transfer window.
The Magpies are also said to be interested in Jules Kounde, who is also a teammate of Christensen at Barcelona. Both players, especially the 27-year-old Danish ace, seem content to remain in Catalonia, and Barcelona has no intention of letting go of the Dane.
Therefore, Newcastle may encounter difficulties in their pursuit of Christensen in January. They not only need to make a substantial offer, which could be complicated due to financial fair play (FFP) concerns, but they also have to convince the player to exchange the comfort of Catalonia for the chilly environment of Tyneside.