Newcastle Transfer News: Magpies Dealt Blow In Pursuit Of £10m Schalke Defender

When will NUFC finally manage to get a transfer over the line?

by Chris Waugh
Newcastle United are continuing to monitor Cameroon international Joel Matip's situation at Schalke 04 - although the Bundesliga side's manager claims the defender is not interested in moving to St James' Park. Schalke would be willing to listen to offers of around £10 million this summer for the 23-year-old due to the fact he is entering the final year of his contract. Defenders are high on the Magpies€™ priority list as they look to strengthen this summer and The Daily Mail claims that Schalke, whose manager Roberto di Matteo recently resigned, are contemplating offloading him.
A player who has attracted interest from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in the past, Matip can operate a 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). But Matip's Schalke boss, Horst Heldt, said of the defender's situation:
"Joel wants to stay at Schalke. So far we have not yet negotiated, but only an exploratory talk."
Matip would be brought in to boost Newcastle€™s 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 club€™s 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.
Contributor
Contributor

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.