Newcastle to move for ‘fantastic’ midfielder before end of January

Newcastle United look set to submit a bid at the end of January for an exciting teenage midfielder who is also wanted by Borussia Dortmund.

Newcastle are interested in adding depth to their midfield, but it may depend on any outgoings in the next 11 days or so.

According to a recent report from L’Equipe, Newcastle are likely to compete with Borussia Dortmund for the signing of Desire Doue, who has impressed at Rennes for the past two seasons.

Newcastle look for new midfielder in January

While securing a defensive midfielder appears to be Newcastle’s primary focus this month, it’s not entirely ruled out that they may also be in the market for a more attacking player to bolster their frontline.

Throughout the season, Newcastle has frequently expressed frustration with the lack of creativity and dynamism from their midfield, as Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, and Sean Longstaff have not shown particular progressiveness in the final third. The absence of Joe Willock’s direct style in the middle of the pitch has been notably felt, a quality that Doue could potentially bring to the team with his speed and confidence on the ball.

However, Dortmund is closely monitoring the 18-year-old as well, posing a formidable challenge for Newcastle. The competition could be intense, considering the positions of the two teams in their respective leagues and their European pedigree.

 

Newcastle will have to wait to see January budget

While Newcastle clearly admires Doue and the job he has done in France, it is unclear whether they can afford the ‘exciting’ teenage prospect.

A lot of Newcastle’s January transfer activity is dependent on who goes the other way, with Kieran Trippier linked with a move to Bayern Munich, while Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles might also leave.

This is likely why Newcastle will wait until the conclusion of the window to decide where to invest their money, as other positions may take precedence.

However, there is clear interest in Doue, whom Newcastle has been tracking since the summer, and he might be released from Rennes, where he was recently demoted to their B squad, opening the door to offers from other clubs.