Newcastle have had a £33million bid for Monaco defender Benoit Badiashile rejected as their search for a new centre back continues.
The Magpies are desperate to bolster their backline, which has leaked the second most goals (43) this season, in order to preserve their Premier League status this season.
Following their £300million Saudi-led takeover in October, making them the richest club in the world, money is not an issue for the club during the January transfer window.
Yet persuading clubs to sell star men - and persuading targets to join their relegation fight - sees their struggle to find a new centre-back continue.
Now, according to L’Equipe, they've been rejected by Ligue 1 club Monaco for Badiashile, the highly-rated young centre-back
But this is not to say that Eddie Howe’s side won't return with an improved offer, as the two clubs continue to negotiate.
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The Magpies have already secured one new defensive addition in the form of right back Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, which is an impressive signing after his success in Spain..
But Trippier alone can’t stop the rot at the back and a new centre back is the priority going forward.
Howe most recently used Jamal Lascelles and Fabian Schar as his centre back pairing in the draw with Watford on Saturday, as Ciaran Clark suffers from Covid-19 and Federico Fernandez remains out through injury.
But the quartet have struggled to stop leaking goals this season and new additions are desperately needed in the heart of defence if the Magies are to have any hope of staying up.
And Newcastle are prepared to spend big as the clock runs down, with Badiashile becoming the number one target, as Sevilla refuse to part with £70million-rated Diego Carlos.
At just 20, the French under 21 international has already made over 100 appearances for Monaco but the Magpies believe he can certainly do a better job than what they already have.
In the report by L’Equipe, it mentions that Badiashile will be out for at least another three to four weeks following a hamstring injury against Nantes on January 9.
A further complication is that he seemingly has no desire to leave halfway through the season and is in no hurry to complete a transfer away from the Principality.
Monaco are currently 5th in Ligue 1 and chasing a Champions League spot, while the Magpies are 19th in the Premier League and facing a relegation battle, which certainly isn’t the most appealing switch for the defender.
Negotiations between the two clubs have been ongoing for the past 10 days - only to lead to an offer that Monaco believe to be below their estimation.
