Newcastle United are reportedly keeping a close track of the situation of Fulham’s central defensive powerhouse, Tosin Adarabioyo.
According to the Mirror, Newcastle United have reignited their long-term interest in Tosin Adarabioyo and are eyeing a move for the 24-year-old Fulham defender this summer as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his backline ahead of his first full season in charge at St James’ Park.
While Newcastle have been linked to a plethora of names in these early stages of the transfer window, it is safe to say that they have made a slow start to the window. But they continue to plug away in search of a potential breakthrough, with deals for defender Sven Botman and striker Hugo Ekitike high on their wish list.
However, both moves appear to be in danger of stalling, especially for Botman, who is preferring a move to reigning Serie A champions AC Milan. To that end, Newcastle have been linked with a few left-footed young centre-halves in recent weeks.
But it appears a right-sided centre-back is also on Howe’s agenda, going by their recent links to Merih Demiral. And they are now also keeping tabs on Fulham’s Adarabioyo, who has been quite frequently linked to them since last summer.
After coming through Manchester City’s academy, Adarabioyo had brief loan spells at Championship sides, Blackburn and West Brom, before he left the Etihad Stadium permanently to join a newly-promoted Fulham in search of regular football in 2020.
And while Fulham could not escape relegation, he slotted in very well alongside Joachim Andersen in a revamped backline and was a bright spot with a string of consistent displays. The defender remained a mainstay under Marco Silva last season, helping the Cottagers’ return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Adarabioyo was a vital cog at the back in Fulham’s Championship win last season, as the Cottagers dominated the second-tier, with a goal difference of +60 and one of the best defensive records in the division, conceding 43 goals in 46 games. That said, Adarabioyo has just one year left on his contract and it seems Fulham are struggling to tie him down to fresh terms, alerting a host of mid-table Premier League clubs.
Despite their strong defensive form in the latter half of last season, Newcastle must strengthen their defensive department by bringing in at least two young, athletic central defenders. Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez are likely to leave the club this summer, while skipper Jamaal Lascelles is also linked with a move away.
And a player like Adarabioyo fits the bill. The 24-year-old is an athletic, aerially imposing, ball-playing defender with a good recovery pace who is at the right age and already has some Premier League experience. Furthermore, he would likely not cost an extortionate amount and is homegrown.
As for the player, Newcastle appear to be the viable next step in his career, with the club heading in the right direction under a manager who specializes in getting the best out of young players. It remains to be seen if Newcastle will sign him for a reasonable fee or whether Fulham will be able to keep him for their top-flight return.
