The top five transfer needs for Newcastle United

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: Cedric Soares of Southampton during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 3, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images) /

Defender with athleticism

With a goal differential of -10 this late in the season, Newcastle’s defense has not been bad, but it has not been great either. Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett have been the most consistent Magpies in defense, but they need assistance.

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Ciaran Clark and Florian Lejeune have the attributes to play in the Premier League, but they still have a lot of room for growth in terms of football intelligence. DeAndre Yedlin has exceeded expectations this season, but he too must improve, especially his marking skills.

An athletic and quick defender who can help to fill some of the gaps for Newcastle United is Cedric Soares from Southampton. He is a well-rounded defender with sufficient experience in the Premier League. Furthemore, Soares has also made 25 appearances for Portugal.

Although his main role in defense is to serve his club as a right-back, placing him alongside Jamaal Lascelles would add speed and composure down the middle. Lejeune, for example, has the perfect frame for his role, but he might be one of the slowest players in the league. Newcastle have been caught off-guard by counter-attacks many times this season and Soares would aid the Magpies in mitigating the risk from those situations.

With Southampton surprisingly fighting for their top-flight survival this year, Soares could be seeking an exit for a club on the rise, such as Newcastle. Valued at around 15 million euros, it might be difficult for Benitez to get that funding for a defender, but Soares would be a major boost.