Report: Newcastle considering summer move for £60m defender likened to Lilian Thuram

Newcastle United look to have two new defenders incoming already this summer but reports suggest they aren't done with recruiting for that position just yet.

With deals for Lloyd Kelly and Tosin Adarabioyo already close to completion according to several reports, the Magpies have moved quickly to fill the gap that will be left by the continued absences of Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles who both underwent ACL surgery within a month of each other and aren't expected to be back in action this year.

However, there's also a chance that Eddie Howe may get the chequebook out to acquire another defender who he's had his eye on for a while, although he may face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur.

Mohamed Simikan of RB Leipzig is hoping for a move to boost his chances of being selected for the France national team after turning his back on his native Guinea according to German outlet BILD.

Newcastle have had their eye on Simakan for a while

This isn't the first time Simakan's name has come up alongside that of Newcastle and with the player having a €70million (£60million) release clause in his contract, a move this summer is not beyond the realms of possibility.

With his intention to get into the France team, PSG would seem the most likely destination but reports suggest that the French club would only be prepared to pay a half of what his current release clause stands.

If they do go in with a low-ball bid, that could spark Tottenham and Newcastle into life to try and compete. It's unlikely that any of the clubs will want to fork out the full £60million for the 24-year-old, even if he has been dubbed the 'new Lilian Thuram' by scouting expert Jacek Kulig.

Simakan can play center-back or right-back

Simakan is a centre-back who is comfortable also filling in at right-back, and we know how Eddie Howe loves a player with more than one trick up their sleeve.

He was involved in all-bar two of RB Leipzig's Bundesliga games this season and even contributed two goals and four assists to the cause.

Simakan looks like a good player, but with Kelly and Tosin incoming, we can't see this one happening unless we happen to have some budget left over after other positions have been filled.