Newcastle now interested in 23-year-old defender who was Yankuba Minteh's captain last season

Newcastle United continue to search for additional cover in defence after being rejected by Tosin Adarabioyo.

With Tosin Adarabioyo now heading to Chelsea rather than Newcastle, the Magpies are looking for different options to bring in this summer, albeit ones that will cost money rather than taking on a free agent.

Now reports from Holland are suggesting that Newcastle, along with three other Premier League sides, have their eye on 23-year-old Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida who played behind Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh last season.

According to Dutch outlet AD, Geertruida is garnering interest from Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham as well as Newcastle.

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Geertruida would cost around £28million

Geertruida's contract with Feyenoord is set to expire in 2025 and talks over an extension have broken down suggesting that he may be open to a move this summer.

AD believe that it would take around £28million to take him away from Rotterdam which isn't too bad considering his stats.

Last season, Geertruida made 47 appearances in all competitions scoring nine goals and providing five assists. More than decent numbers for a defender.

Geertruida is primarily a right-back

The problem is that Geertruida, despite being versatile, is primarily a right-back, and if there's one position you'd like to think Newcastle have plenty of cover for, it's right-back.

Kieran Trippier may well be leaving this summer, and if that's the case, Newcastle still have Tino Livramento and Emil Krafth, as well as Harrison Ashby on standby - although the latter's future is also questionable.

We can't imagine Geertruida would want to come to the Magpies to play second-fiddle to Livramento, or indeed third-choice if Trippier remains on Tyneside. While he can play in central defence, we also can't see him usurping Fabian Schar next season either.

Also with Lloyd Kelly incoming who operates at centre-back or left-back, it means the other side of defence is starting to take shape too. Unless Howe can convince Geertruida to play centre-back and he sees him as a replacement for Fabian Schar, we're not sure how much truth there is in this one.