Newcastle United's search for a new centre-half has seen them take stock of Lille's Portuguese defender Tiago Djalo. The 23-year-old, former centre-half partner of current Magpies defender Sven Botman, won the Ligue 1 title in 2020-21.

Nearing the end of his rehabilitation for an ACL injury he sustained in March earlier this year, Eddie Howe's side are said to have watched the defender and like the look of him. Djalo signed a five-year deal with Lille back in 2019 and is approaching the final few months of his contract.

An approach in January could see the Magpies agree a deal to sign the centre-half on a free transfer in the summer of 2024, while also still being able to negotiate a cut price fee come January if they want to sign him there and then.

Newcastle are not short of options at the back, but their aging defence and need for constant improvement if they want to hit the heights the new owners outlined when they bought the club, means a move for another centre-half makes sense. There of course remains the risk that Djalo may not return to the level he showcased prior to his injury and would need time to adapt to the English game.

The Magpies owners know they need to box clever when it comes to complying with Financial Fair Play and we're yet to see them make an approach for players nearing the end of their contracts. They've been clever with the move for Lewis Hall - a loan move with an obligation to buy, knocking the PS30million fee down the road until next summer.