Hopes of Newcastle luring Danish defender to St James’ are slim
Published:
Although it isn’t the sorry state of affairs being experienced by their local rivals at the Stadium of Light, Newcastle’s defence is likely to be giving Steve McClaren a cause for concern.
A back four of Fabricio Coloccini, Chancel Mbemba – the new signing from Anderlecht – Daryl Janmaat and Massadio Haidara has now conceded two goals in each of the Magpies’ Premier League games.
The lineup will be forced to change for the trip to Manchester United next Saturday, which the north east club are 1/3 to lose, after Janmaat’s ridiculous sending off helped Swansea ease to victory, although a shuffling of personnel looked on the cards regardless.
Along with unsurprising changes in the backline, new links to defensive recruits are also an expected development in the aftermath of the Liberty-Stadium loss.
However, reports that suggest £7m-rated Werder Bremen defender Jannik Vestergaard is the man to revitalise McClaren’s charges are wide of the mark.
Not only did the Danish international recently suggest he had no idea of any interest from clubs in England, the Bundesliga side’s general manager, Thomas Eichin, also claimed the club have received no bids.
Should an offer be tendered, it would be highly unlikely that Die Grun-Wiessen accepted anyway, considering they only signed the player themselves last January.
Vestergaard, a 23-year-old with three international caps, has made just the 15 Werder Bremen appearances since swapping Hoffenheim for Weserstadion, but is growing into an increasingly important figure for the club.
With Everton also reportedly interested in the former Brondby youth as they seek contingency plans to John Stones’ potential departure, it seems more top-flight outfits than Newcastle will be disappointed by the revelation.
Newcastle are 17/2 to get an unlikely first win of the season at Old Trafford, with McClaren’s side rated at 4/1 to be relegated by Ladbrokes after the first two games of the season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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