Scouts target centre-backs in bid to boost Eddie Howe's defensive ranks

RIGHT-FOOTED SAINTS YOUNGSTER EYED UP

- By LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle writer [e-mail] @lee_ryder

NEWCASTLE United scouts have been hard at work identifying new centre-back targets for Eddie Howe ahead of the 2025/26 season.

With Europe beckoning, Howe would ideally like more cover for his defensive ranks with Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Sven Botman all set to be a big part of plans moving forward.

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles will see his contract expire at the end of the campaign and it remains to be seen whether he continues at United. But regardless of the decision on Lascelles, Newcastle have been busy on the scouting front taking a look at options defensively.

That search has taken club scouts to both Portugal and Scotland in the last week or so but there are also long-term targets under consideration.

As we reported over the weekend, Newcastle still have an interest in March Guehi but the sky-high terms that were offered to Crystal Palace last summer would have to drop down with the England man having a year left on his contract.