Newcastle is reportedly gearing up for a potential battle to secure the services of Lille center-back Tiago Djalo, with the aim of reuniting him with Sven Botman.
Since their acquisition by the Saudi Public Investment fund in late 2021, Newcastle has consistently strengthened its squad in each transfer window, bringing in notable talents like Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak.
Under Eddie Howe’s management, the team has been reinforcing every position to elevate their competitiveness in both the Premier League and Champions League. Despite finishing fourth in the league last season and currently sitting in sixth place, Newcastle has also achieved notable victories in European competition, including one against Paris Saint-Germain.
While the center-back position was bolstered in the previous summer with the acquisition of Botman, the club is actively seeking further additions to fortify the defense. One player on their radar is Djalo, Botman’s former teammate.
Although Newcastle expressed interest in Djalo before the summer transfer window, his injury sidelined him for the latter part of the previous season and the entirety of the current one. With Djalo preparing to make a comeback, the Magpies are closely monitoring his progress.
According to reports, Newcastle is prepared to enter a competitive race for Djalo’s signature in 2024. The exact timing, whether in January or the summer when his contract is set to expire, remains unclear. However, the club is aware of the significant interest from various parties, including Inter Milan, who have previously shown interest in Djalo. Other clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen, are also keen on securing the defender.
If Djalo joins Newcastle, it would mark a reunion with Botman, creating a defensive partnership that proved successful during the 2021/22 campaign with Lille. Despite a disappointing season, the duo played a key role in Lille’s previous Ligue 1 title victory, with Botman featuring in nearly every game and Djalo contributing significantly.
Given their past success together, Newcastle’s determination to compete with other top clubs for Djalo’s signature is a logical move as they aim to recreate the formidable defensive pairing.