3. Erik Pieters
Its probably been a while since you heard about Erik Pieters; Newcastle were all over the PSV Eindhoven left back 12 months ago (source:
Mirror) before a pre-season injury forced the club to look elsewhere and eventually pick up highly-rated Italian youngster Davide Santon. Since then Pieters has struggled with various injuries but his name continues to crop up on various blogs and message boards. He is a good friend of fellow Dutchman Tim Krul who is apparently very keen for his friend to join him on Tyneside and on the 18th of August he was spotted at St James Park which reignited speculation that he would finally sign for the Magpies but unfortunately it appears he was merely there as a spectator and not as a transfer target. A controversial choice because it would force Santon, whose form has blown both hot and cold in the 12 months since his arrival, over to the right and, although the 21-year-old is right-footed, he sees himself predominantly as a left back.