Reporter says Manchester United defender is an ‘option’ for Newcastle but it will be difficult

Speaking on the transfer window podcast, Duncan Castles has claimed Newcastle United have an interest in Manchester United centre-half Eric Bailly.

The Ivorian is currently out of the Africa Cup of Nations but that hasn’t stopped him from being the subject of much transfer speculation this month.

Indeed, he’s been linked with both Tottenham and AC Milan, and now it looks like Newcastle like him.

However, unfortunately for the Magpies, it looks like it will be a tough deal to negotiate.

Indeed, Castles claim Newcastle believe other Premier League clubs are unwilling to sell them this month unless their players have release clauses, and for this reason they believe Bailly will be very difficult to land.

What have they said of Bailly?

Castles has shared an update on the Magpies’ transfer intentions.

“There has been an open discussion within the Newcastle recruitment team that it will be almost impossible to take players from other Premier League clubs outside of Manchester City in this window. ‘there’s a silent pact against them where the clubs have agreed not to allow their players to move to Newcastle while they’re fighting relegation so the only way they can do that is with a release clause like they did it with Chris Wood,” Castles said.

The reporter then spoke about Newcastle’s search for a new centre-back later in the podcast.

“They are considering multiple targets for this position and are working on multiple transactions. As I said they don’t think they could sign any other Premier League players, one option would have been Eric Bailly to Manchester United but as he has no release clause they think that would have been difficult . Castles added.

Better there

Newcastle think it will be very difficult to land Bailly, and to be honest, that’s probably not a bad thing.

Bailly, as talented as he is, isn’t exactly the most reliable centre-back in the world. He is very eccentric and when you are fighting for relegation there is no place for this type of player.

Newcastle better go to Europe and land a much more trustworthy defender than Bailly.

In other news, ‘Tottenham fans will likely be annoyed’: Reporter shares Spurs centre-back’s transfer update