Newcastle have been offered the chance to sign Manchester United defender Eric Bailly as an alternative to Lille’s Sven Botman.
Toon are waiting on £30million-plus target Botman, but the Dutch Under-21 centre-back, 22, is understood to favour a move to AC Milan and Newcastle are already looking at other options. New Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag is ready to let Bailly go for a knockdown price, with French sides Marseille and Lyon showing interest.
The Ivory Coast star, 28, was United’s first signing under Jose Mourinho in a £30m move from Villarreal in 2016. It has been suggested United would now accept as little as £8.5m for Bailly, although a source close to his camp says they ideally want around £20m.
This comes as United have been turned down by centre-back Jurrien Timber. Ten Hag had hoped the Ajax defender would follow him to Old Trafford but the Dutch centre-back has opted to stay.
It is understood that Timber was keen for a move to United but was concerned by the amount of game time he would receive, what with big money defenders Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane the club's first choice pairing. This is coupled with a warning from Louis van Gaal who stated that anyone who hopes to be in his Netherlands World Cup squad this year must be playing regularly.
As a result, Timber has put any potential move on hold in a bid to secure his place in Qatar. Whether United go back in for the 21-year-old remains to be seen.
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However, given Ten Hag is still happy to let Bailly leave this summer it speaks volumes about the Ivory Coast international's future at the club. Bailly would join the likes of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata who have already left the club this summer.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are still monitoring Albania keeper Thomas Strakosha, 27, despite interest from Chelsea in the Lazio free agent, who had been close to joining Fulham. Nick Pope of Burnley has also been linked with a move as Eddie Howe looks to sign competition for Martin Dubravka.
The Magpies have yet to make any marquee signings, simply making Matt Targett's loan move from Aston Villa a permanent one for £15.7m. However, personal terms Hugo Ekitike have finally been reached as that transfer edges ever closer.
