Newcastle United are aiming to strengthen their defense and have sent scouts to watch Genoa’s Radu Dragusin.
The 21-year-old defender has been linked with a move away for some time, with Newcastle now showing considerable interest in him.
Newcastle have recently dispatched scouts to see Dragusin play for Genoa, according to Fabrizio Romano, as they hope to add a new centre-back to their ranks either in January or in the summer.
Genoa, on the other hand, does not want to lose one of their key players in the midst of the season.
Newcastle look to add Dragusin to their ranks
With Sven Botman’s injury exposing Newcastle’s lack of depth, Eddie Howe will need to expand his squad in the coming window to meet the demands of competing in four competitions.
Jamaal Lascelles has been stepping in for the injured Dutchman, but Howe wants to add more quality to his squad and find a long-term replacement for Fabian Schar, who is 31 years old.
Dragusin might potentially be the solution to Newcastle’s difficulties, but according to Romano, Genoa are aiming to extend the Romanian’s contract in order to keep him until at least the summer.
After making 34 league appearances and scoring four goals while on loan at Juventus, the centre-back helped Genoa earn promotion from Serie B last season.
Dragusin was then signed on a permanent basis in the summer and is one of the first names on the squad sheet as the tall and powerful defender seeks to maintain his good form and assist Genoa remain in the division.
Newcastle are not alone in their interest
Newcastle will be hoping to make an enticing offer to Dragusin, but they are not the only ones that admire the Genoa defender. According to journalist Mirko Di Natale, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and AC Milan are all interested in a move.
Genoa is thought to demand a sum in the region of £35 million to move one of its best players.
The Italian club paid a fraction of that when they signed the young star on a permanent basis last summer, but they now want to maximize their profits.
It is not a charge that Newcastle cannot afford, but it would consume a significant portion of the budget.
For a young, talented defender, however, there’s little chance of finding a cheaper alternative.
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