Report: Newcastle told they will have to pay £80m to take 'monster' defender from Premier League rivals

We've reached the point of the year when clubs start affixing silly price tags on their top players to ward off interest from elsewhere.

Newcastle United will do the same, for sure, but right now we're more concerned with the price of players in which the Magpies have an active interest.

When it comes to buying players from other Premier League sides it's always tricky. The selling club don't want to strengthen a rival and the buying club don't want to hand over too much money to allow their rival to do similar.

Even with their current financial situation, Everton are set to play hardball over their biggest assets this summer having already whacked a hefty fee on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they've now gone even bigger to fend off interest in their 21-year-old England defender, Jarrad Branthwaite.

Everton aren't messing around with their valuation of Branthwaite

Newcastle have been credited with an interest in the England centre-back since January and, despite seemingly having won the race for both Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo, aren't done recruiting defenders just yet.

However, if they want to sign one of England's brightest young defenders, they're going to have to fork out £80million for the privilege according to inews.

On his Wrighty's House podcast, Ian Wright once described Branthwaite as a 'monster' when saying he should be selected for England.

"I’m telling you we have a monster on our hands at left-sided centre-half. A monster.”

Competition for Branthwaite will be fierce this summer

Newcastle will have to fend off rival interest from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur as well as coughing up £80million which makes this transfer one for the "in our dreams" category.

If Financial Fair Play wasn't a thing, I'd back us to snap him up for sure, but things being what they are, we can't really afford to splash out £80million on a defender when we need a winger and a striker as well, especially when we potentially have two free signings coming in to cover defence.

It's a huge shame to miss out on such a massive talent, and I hope I'm wrong and that we do go for it, but right now, thanks to FF chuffing P, I just don't see it.