Newcastle now need two centre backs as Coloccini asks to leave

Newcastle will look an even bigger 13/2 to be relegated this summer should the club accept the wishes of captain Fabricio Coloccini to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Although no official transfer request has been handed in, Coloccini has stated his desire to return to Argentina for reasons described by his agent to be “personal matters”.

Newcastle’s defence has been a shambles for virtually the whole season and it is arguably only the performances of Coloccini that have prevented their goals against record from being even worse.

Alan Pardew’s men have kept just three clean sheets this season and have let in twice or more on 11 occasions.

Meanwhile, they have lost their last seven games in all competitions for which Coloccini has been unavailable, although statistics show that their win percentage is somehow greater this season without him.

It is difficult to see how keeping a player that does not want to be at the club will do Newcastle much good and so it seems they will be almost forced to accept his terms.

Alongside needing to replace Coloccini, the other problem presented is that it appears that he is keen to return to hard-up San Lorenzo, where he has previously played on loan and where his father is currently working.

Therefore, even if Newcastle allow Coloccini to depart on loan, it will not do much for them financially.

With a suitable defender already needed to play alongside Coloccini at the heart of the defence, the pressure is now really on Alan Pardew to bring in two new faces.

And even if he recruits two fairly big names, expecting them to gel immediately is a big expectation and Newcastle’s already troubled season looks set to take a further turn for the worse.

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