Newcastle United are being linked with a host of players as they’re expected to strengthen heavily in the transfer market this summer, but TuttoMercatoWeb reporting about the Magpies’ alleged interest in Cedric Soares makes little sense given Eddie Howe is overstocked at right-back.
TMW say the 30-year-old is expected to leave Arsenal at the end of the season and has Newcastle’s attention due to his versatility, but Howe doesn’t need to strengthen on the left or right-hand side of his defence – Kieran Trippier was brought in from Atletico Madrid in January while Matt Targett joined on loan from Arsenal.
Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis are waiting in the wings at left-back while Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are options on the right, so Newcastle are unlikely to sign another defender. Cedric could have been a player on their radar in January when Howe needed a stopgap, but Trippier arriving was a major upgrade.
The Portuguese international may be available for €5m (£4.2m) this summer, but Newcastle need to sell existing fullbacks rather than bring in more competition, so FC Porto might be frontrunners to procure his signature now.
In other news, Paddy Kenny hails ‘amazing’ Joelinton for his versatility
