Newcastle United are ready to target a move for Flamengo defender Leo Ortiz to shore up Eddie Howe’s backline ahead of January.
According to Sport Witness, Brazilian defender Leo Ortiz is a big target for Newcastle United ahead of the January window. Eddie Howe wants a new face in his backline to deal with the increasing pressure to perform well and leak fewer goals, with the Flamengo star now seen as a viable target, but also a challenging task for the club.
The hallmark of Newcastle United’s performances under Eddie Howe has not been their defence, as the backline has shown unpredictability many times. The manager certainly wants to keep adding to the list of defenders he has at the club, and the January window could be another opportunity for the Englishman to do so.
A new centre-back is high on the club’s transfer agenda ahead of January, with Flamengo star Leo Ortiz the latest on their list. The 28-year-old Brazilian has been a sensational presence for Filipe Luis’ side since his arrival there, and has been described as a ‘no.10’ playing from the back.
Flamengo have conceded half the goals in 2025 as they did in the previous year, and Ortiz has been credited as the main reason for the dramatic change in fortunes. Newcastle United are reportedly ready to make an important offer for the 28-year-old Brazilian in January, but it remains to be seen whether any proposal matches what Flamengo would seek.
There are obvious challenges for Newcastle United about the financial and sporting aspects when it comes to signing the 28-year-old Brazilian. For instance, Ortiz rejected a few European offers recently, and there will be doubts whether the Magpies can convince him completely. Moreover, the defender is tied to Flamengo until December 2028, meaning the Brazilian side could demand a significant fee to sell.
Newcastle United’s list of new defenders
Ortiz is not the only one on the list, which could be a long one heading into the January window. Newcastle United are looking at Fikayo Tomori among multiple players from AC Milan, while they are also looking to secure Fabian Schar to a new deal imminently.
Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu is another name that interests Newcastle United, while Club Brugge star Joel Ordonez is also on their list. Overall, the Magpies seem intent on bringing in a new centre-back in January as that seems like a priority area for Howe to strengthen in the next window.