If this season has shown us anything, it’s that bringing in defensive depth must be one of this summer’s top priorities.
With the exception of Malick Thiaw, each of our starting defenders and their immediate backups has been injured at one point or another, leaving Eddie Howe very lucky that he can even field a natural defence most weeks.
But with reinforcements being needed elsewhere in the squad, money will have to be spent very carefully to ensure we make the right signings for the right positions.
With that in mind, it’s interesting to see us linked with a free transfer for one right back with pedigree across multiple top leagues,
According to Italian outlet [Corriere dello Sport](https://www.corrieredellosport.it/), Newcastle are one of a number of clubs from across Europe interested in signing Roma defender Zeki Celik in the summer.
The right back’s wage demands are said to be too high for Roma, with the Italian giants offering the Turkish international a €2.5m-per-year, compared the €4m he wants.
And with his contract expiring in the summer, Celik could will be available on a free transfer: something which looks to has left Juventus, Stuttgart and Fulham also interested in his signature, according to the report.
Should we sign the 29-year-old, he’ll have a ready-made connection already within the team: Celik played alongside Sven Botman during Lille’s surprise Ligue 1 title win back in the 2020/21 season.
This season alone Celik has played all but three games in the league, as Roma have established the defence with the fewest goals conceded in Europe this season.
He was also part of Jose Mourinho’s Roma side that went on to reach the final of the 2022/23 Europa League, so he’s no stranger to high-stakes European football.
On the surface, signing Celik makes great sense: a versatile, experienced defender available on a free with some very doable wage demands.
If Kieran Trippier is entering the final few months of his Newcastle career, then it may well be a deal that appeals, especially with Trippier likely to leave on a free this summer.
The biggest issue is Celik’s age: he turned 29-years-old earlier this month, and the recruitment team may want to future proof our defence, not add another star pushing 30-years-old to a team.
At this moment in time, however, there’s no certainty if any of Trippier, Tino Livramento or Emil Krafth are going to be here for the start of next season, so we could do a lot worse than bringing in Celik and promoting Leo Shahar to at least retain some full back depth in the near future.