Newcastle United keen on 22-year-old English right-back based in Italy as they look for defensive cover
Newcastle United have reportedly thrown their hat in the ring with several other Premier League clubs to bring Brooke Norton-Cuffy back to the Premier League.
The young right-back came through the ranks at Arsenal before moving to Genoa in 2024 and, other than one game this season, has been an ever-present for the Serie A side.
As Newcastle look for more defensive options amid their current injury crisis, they don't just want to bring in a player who is going to put a bandaid on the problem, but one who will have a part to play way beyond this season.
The Magpies are looking for a defender between the ages of 19 and 24 who is ready to be dropped into the side to make an immediate impact, and they feel that Norton-Cuffy fits that description.
Newcastle could sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy for as little as £17 million
Give Me Sport claims that Newcastle, Everton and West Ham are eyeing the 22-year-old for a January move, but so are Juventus and Napoli.
They believe a bid of around £17 million could be enough to tempt Genoa into a sale, which certainly puts him in the affordable category for Newcastle, who have reportedly set aside £25 million for a new defender this month.
It's thought that the former England Under-21 international would be open to a return to England, too.
Newcastle may need to find a replacement for Tino Livramento
Beyond Tino Livramento's injury issues this season, there's a big likelihood that the England full-back could make a move this summer with Arsenal and Manchester City lurking, and bringing in Norton-Cuffy now and getting him up to speed ahead of next season may not be a bad idea.
Whether the former Arsenal man can fill the boots of Tino Livramento remains to be seen, but if we get our replacement in place now, then we won't get our eyes taken out in the summer like we were when trying to replace Alexander Isak.
We're on the fence over whether there's any truth to this one. Norton-Cuffy absolutely fits the profile of an Eddie Howe signing. He plays in a position we need cover for, but is it just a case of journalists making that easy link again?
