Newcastle United are tracking the performances of Leicester City defender Wout Faes ahead of a possible move in 2025.
The Magpies had four bids turned down by Crystal Palace for their skipper Marc Guehi during the summer transfer window. Eddie Howe had made the England international his priority defensive target after losing Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles to long-term injuries in the second half of last season. However, Crystal Palace were reluctant to lose Guehi after Joachim Andersen’s sale to Fulham.
Newcastle United failing to land the Eagles’ star after so many attempts was a big blow. With Fabian Schar and Dan Burn’s contracts due to expire at the end of this season, the club are uncertain about whether to offer them new deals or let them walk away as free agents.
This has led to the Toon Army looking away for potential replacements, with Leicester City’s Wout Faes reportedly emerging as one of the targets. Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic is also on Newcastle’s radar. Leicester would likely demand around €40m for Faes, while Nottingham Forest are expected to slap a €50m price tag for Milenkovic, who only arrived at City Ground from Fiorentina in August.
Could Newcastle make a move for Wout Faes in January?
Newcastle managed to sign defender Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth in the summer. Their failure to land Guehi means Eddie Howe could enter the market for defensive reinforcements when the transfer window reopens in January.
Wout Faes has been a reliable presence at the back for Leicester since arriving from French club Reims in the summer of 2022. He played a key role in the Foxes’ promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking under Enzo Maresca, who was appointed as Chelsea’s head coach in June.
The newly promoted club’s poor recruitment, coupled with how he is being used presently in Steve Cooper’s system has left the Belgium international unhappy. He was looking for a late transfer away from Leicester City but a move didn’t materialise.
The Midlands outfit’s disappointing start to the 2024/25 Premier League season under Steve Cooper may see Faes demand for a January exit. Newcastle should be keeping tabs on the 26-year-old’s situation at Leicester, and if he forces for a move away, they may consider tabling a bid for him to fortify their backline.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
