Newcastle United have reportedly set their sights on PSV’s midfield powerhouse Ibrahim Sangare as they ramp up efforts to bolster their squad further.

According to Daily Mail, Newcastle United are showing interest in signing defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare from PSV Eindhoven as Eddie Howe looks to add more steel to his midfield department. The 24-year-old midfielder is presently on international duty with Ivory Coast, as they enter the Africa Cup of Nations as one of the favourites.

Sangare spent his formative years with Ivorian clubs AS Denguele and Tout Puissant Koumassi before joining Toulouse. Sangare first broke into their first team in the 2017/2018 season, becoming a regular fixture in the French side’s bid to stave off relegation for several years.

The 24-year-old built a reputation for himself in Toulouse as a ferocious, combative ball-winning number six. He was one of the hottest properties in the summer transfer market of 2020 following Toulouse’s relegation from Ligue 1 and attracted the attention of top European clubs like Arsenal, Barcelona, Everton, and Tottenham.

However, to everyone’s surprise, Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven completed the capture of the highly-rated midfielder. The 24-year-old has since made quite an impression with some solid performances in the Eredivisie and is a massive part of Rood-witten’s unlikely title charge this campaign, as they are locked in an intense battle with rivals Ajax.

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Although the Dutch outfit has no plans to sell their prized asset midway through the campaign and will want to keep him for the remainder of the season, they could well be forced to cash in on him. The cash-rich Newcastle United have become the latest club to register their interest, with AS Monaco, Hertha Berlin, and Aston Villa keen on securing the Ivorian midfielder’s signature.

The weekend’s ouster from the FA Cup at the hands of League One side Cambridge Unitede has exposed Newcastle’s lack of quality all over the pitch. The new owners are now likely to intensify their attempts to bring in new players for Eddie Howe, determined to drag themselves out of the drop zone in the second half of the Premier League campaign, with Sangare high on Howe’s list of midfield targets.

Sangare is comfortable playing in the holding midfielder role but has emerged as an all-round progressive midfielder during his time in the Eredivisie. Standing at 6ft 3in, Sangare has a towering presence in the middle of the park and makes full use of his athleticism. His style of play and physical attributes helped him draw comparison to his legendary compatriot Yaya Toure.

The tough-tackling midfielder would add bite, energy and a box-to-box presence to the Toon’s midfield while he has the ability to manoeuvre his way out of tight situations. His adept dribbling, close control and speed make him a serious ball carrier. The 24-year-old may also prove to be an excellent upgrade over Sean Longstaff, who is courted by Everton.

Sangare is under contract with his current club until 2025, although he is open to offers from big European clubs. What now remains to be seen is whether Newcastle United will step up their pursuit of the 24-year-old with a formal bid or turn to other alternatives.

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