Newcastle United have launched bids for three players as they finally look to break their transfer duck for the summer window - with recruiting Schalke 04 centre-back Joel Matip being of the utmost priority. Schalke would be willing to listen to offers of around £10 million for the 23-year-old due to the fact he is entering the final year of his contract and the Magpies have made an opening bid, according to The Chronicle. The publication claims that offers have also been made for two others players - one of who is believed to be Marseille winger Florian Thauvin - as they look to ramp up their transfer business now Steve McClaren has his backroom staff in place. Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin and Wolfsburg's Bas Dost remain on the Magpies' radar, although deals are not close for either player. In terms of their defensive reinforcements, Matip is player who has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the past - and who can operate at centre-back or defensive-midfield. This versatility - and the fact Matip is a player with extensive Champions League experience - would help to plug a Magpies defence who conceded the second-highest number of goals in the Premier League last season (63). Matip would be brought in to boost Newcastles central-defensive ranks - with only Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Paul Dummett able to play there (although Daryl Janmaat was called upon to fill in as well last season). Capped 26 times by Cameroon, the 6ft 3in German-born defender played for his nation in both the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Having risen up through the Schalke ranks, Matip represented the Bundesliga clubs second team before being elevated to the senior side in 2009-10. To date, Matip has made 215 appearances for Schalke - scoring an impressive 19 goals from defence. If Newcastle do take up the option to sign Matip, not only would they be getting a versatile and experienced centre-back who has played in the Champions League and at major international tournaments, they would also be acquiring a goal-scoring defender - something they have seriously lacked in recent years. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
