NUFC approach Axel Disasi's camp ahead of potential bid

Italian football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has sensationally claimed that Newcastle United have "approached the player side" ahead of a potential offer to AS Monaco for 25-year-old centre-back Axel Disasi.

Romano reports that Newcastle are set to approach Monaco directly "next week", presumably having been given encouragement from the player and his agent about their interest in a move to St. James' Park.

Things don't look especially straightforward, though, as Manchester United are also in the mix for the French defender and have been in contact with his camp "for weeks" now. Neither club has made an official bid yet, however, so the race for Disasi would appear to be open.

It's quite rare for Romano to break a story in this manner, so his Tweet definitely caught our eyes. Haven't heard of Disasi or haven't seen him play before? Feast your eyes on this:

A right-sided central defender who stands at 6'2" and has deputised at full-back (on both sides) a few times in his career, Disasi would appear to fit the bill as an Eddie Howe target for this summer.

It has been repeatedly reported that Newcastle are in the market for a "younger", more athletic central defender that's also capable of progressive passing to compete with Fabian Schär for the spot alongside Sven Botman in the heart of the back four, and Disasi ticks all of those boxes.

We'll have more on this one as it develops.