Newcastle eye up move for “dominant” £50m PL star

Newcastle United are at present within the combat to safe qualification for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons underneath Eddie Howe.

The Magpies are at present fifth within the Premier League desk, which may present a path to the competitors if the division earns a fifth spot by means of the coefficient, and are one level behind Manchester Metropolis in fourth place.

A 3-1 win over Southampton away from house at St. Mary’s within the league on Saturday ensured that they remained in touching distance of the highest 4, with two targets from Alexander Isak and one strike from Sandro Tonali sealing all three factors on the south coast.

Howe already has a gaggle of gamers with the standard to problem for a spot within the Champions League for subsequent season, as evidenced by their place within the desk halfway by means of the marketing campaign, however there’s all the time room to enhance.

The Magpies haven’t but dipped into the market to bolster their taking part in squad within the January switch window, which formally slams shut on Monday of subsequent week.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply that there’s nothing occurring behind the scenes at St. James’ Park, and so they have been linked with an curiosity in a Premier League star.

Newcastle eager on Premier League defender

In keeping with iNews, Newcastle United have recognized Bournemouth central defender Illia Zabarnyi because the long-term possibility on the appropriate aspect of their defence.

The report claims that the Magpies have an interest within the Ukraine worldwide, who has been an everyday starter for the Cherries within the Premier League this season.

It states that the membership are hoping to tie down Fabian Schar to a contract extension and consider Zabarnyi as a participant who may are available in to be his long-term substitute at centre-back.

iNews claims that the Magpies are contemplating a transfer to signal the 22-year-old colossus, however {that a} switch is unlikely to transpire till the tip of the season because the Cherries don’t wish to lose one among their star gamers halfway by means of the season.

It reveals that Bournemouth could also be extra open to doing enterprise in the summertime and that signifies that Newcastle may have to attend 4 or 5 months earlier than they can strike a deal for his companies.

CaughtOffside reported earlier this time period that Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are additionally desirous about a deal to signal the Ukraine worldwide, who they claimed is valued at round £50m by Andoni Iraola’s aspect.

This means that Howe will face loads of competitors to land Zabarnyi’s signature and that he may have to persuade the titan to show down curiosity from elsewhere within the Premier League in an effort to make the change to St. James’ Park.

If the Magpies do handle to get a deal over the road for the Bournemouth star in the summertime, he would are available in to compete with Schar for a spot within the beginning XI subsequent season.

Fabian Schar’s type for Newcastle this season

The Switzerland worldwide has began 18 of his 19 appearances within the Premier League for the membership to this point this season, which reveals that he has been the first-choice possibility for Howe when match.

Schar, who joined from Deportivo in the summertime of 2018, has been a stable, however unspectacular, performer on the coronary heart of the defence for the Magpies within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, together with his passing up there as one among his greatest strengths.

The 33-year-old veteran at present ranks within the top 42% of centre-backs within the Premier League for progressive passes per 90 (3.54) this season, which reveals that he excels at taking part in out from the again to progress play for his aspect.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, nonetheless, Schar has not been a dominant power on the again in his bodily battles and has been vulnerable to an error that has created possibilities for the opposition.

These statistics counsel that Newcastle may land an improve on the Swiss veteran if they will herald a participant who’s progressive on the ball while being dominant defensively.

Why Newcastle ought to signal Illia Zabarnyi

The Magpies ought to, due to this fact, swoop to signal Zabarnyi from Bournemouth for the reported charge of £50m in the summertime as a result of he’s method higher than Schar and would enhance Howe’s defence.

He, firstly, has the technical high quality and forward-thinking mentality with the ball at his ft to exchange Schar. The defensive mountain ranks inside the top 40% of centre-backs within the Premier League for progressive passes per 90 (3.65), which reveals that he’s much like the Newcastle star in that respect.

Zabarnyi, who’s 11 years youthful than Schar, has starred for the Cherries within the top-flight this season and his defensive qualities counsel that he would are available in as an improve on the Swiss ace.

The 22-year-old monster, who was described as a “dominant” player by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, has confirmed his skill to dominate opposition forwards within the Premier League.

As you possibly can see within the desk above, Zabarnyi has been extremely dominant towards attackers each on the bottom and within the air in bodily battles, while Schar has struggled – significantly aerially.

These statistics counsel that the Ukraine worldwide has the standard and power to supply way more to the Magpies out of possession than the Switzerland worldwide, as he can win a better proportion of his duels while additionally making extra interventions per sport.

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Once you mix that with their comparable passing statistics, Newcastle may discover a method higher centre-back than Schar by signing the Cherries star forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.