Newcastle's £10m Defensive Target Set To Decide On Future

Newcastle United remain keen to bring Joel Matip to St James' Park this summer and are anxiously waiting to hear the outcome of discussions between the centre-back and his new Schalke 04 manager. Andre Breitenreiter has been confirmed as the Bundesliga club's new boss and The Chronicle claim that Matip will sit down and discuss his future with his head coach this week. The publication claimed earlier this month that the Magpies had already bid for the £10 million-rated defender this summer - but they are still waiting to hear back from Schalke on their offer for the Cameroon international.

The Bundesliga club are 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. 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). Matip would be brought in to boost Newcastle€™s central-defensive ranks - with Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Paul Dummett also able to play there (although Daryl Janmaat was called upon to fill in as well last season), as well as Jamaal Lascelles. 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, and he has regularly played in the Champions League too. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.