---
title: "Newcastle reportedly plan swoop for ex-Liverpool star"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2018/06/08/newcastle-reportedly-plan-swoop-for-ex-liverpool-star/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Osman"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2018-06-08T18:58:19Z"
modified: "2018-06-08T18:58:19Z"
---

# Newcastle reportedly plan swoop for ex-Liverpool star

Last month, [reports from Turkey](https://readnewcastle.com/2018/05/28/newcastle-offered-chance-to-sign-former-liverpool-man/) claimed that Fenerbahce had offered Rafa Benitez the chance to reunite with former Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel at Newcastle.

Initially, the claims looked to be somewhat far-fetched, with the Magpies well-stocked in central defence and without the urgent need to recruit an experienced centre-back in the near future.

However, fresh claims from Turkey, as cited in a report from [Calciomercato](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/benitez-chiama-skrtel-al-newcastle-75060), have indicated that Newcastle have since expressed an interest in recruiting Skrtel as his stay at Fenerbahce nears its end.

![Stu Forster/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readnewcastle.com/readnewcastle/sites/20/2018/06/842654832.jpg)

During Benitez’s stint in charge of Liverpool, he recruited Skrtel and made the Slovakian central defender an integral part of his first-team plans.

Although Newcastle are likely to head into the new season with Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune as their central defensive partnership, it seems other options are being sounded out.

Skrtel is 33-years-old now and nearing the twilight years of his career, but Benitez apparently feels he still has something to offer.