Newcastle are weighing up an offer for Barcelona defender Andreas Christensen, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Catalan publication claims that the Magpies are “showing strong interest” in the former Chelsea player.
Christensen is not currently a starter for Barca, with new head coach Hansi Flick having relegated him to bench duties for the 2-1 win over Valencia last weekend.
Flick opted to start Inigo Martinez and youngster Pau Cubarsi instead, prompting speculation about Christensen’s future.
Barcelona do have money problems
Despite signing Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig for €60m (£51m), they haven’t been able to register the player, so the La Liga side have been looking at ways to cut the wage bill.
One of the solutions is to offload Ilkay Gundogan, who looks set to move back to Manchester City on a free transfer, and they could consider selling Christensen too.
However, Mundo Deportivo report that, due to the lack of options in the centre of defence, Barca may only accept bids of around €30m (£25.6m) for the Denmark international.
Newcastle are seeking alternatives to Guehi
Eddie Howe’s side have now had three separate bids rejected by Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi. The Eagles are said to be holding out for £65m upfront and another £5m in add-ons. That asking price is deemed excessive by the Magpies so they are looking at other options.
With Christensen said to be available for just a third of the price, it seems like a no-brainer. He is 28 years of age and already has experience of playing in the Premier League.
Of course, there are some concerns that he may not be interested in leaving Barcelona. Before making any formal approach, it may be a good idea to contact the player’s agent to see whether a return to England is something he would consider.
