Newcastle Toons
Fansided

Newcastle United express interest in Fabian Schar

By Durim Halimi

LISBON, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 10: Fabian Schar of Switzerland in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Portugal and Switzerland at the Luz Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Lisbon, Lisboa. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 10: Fabian Schar of Switzerland in action during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Portugal and Switzerland at the Luz Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Lisbon, Lisboa. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Newcastle United are being linked to Swiss international defender Fabian Schar.

Fabian Schar has emerged as a serious potential target for Newcastle United over the last 24 hours. Schar currently plays his football in Spain for Deportivo La Coruna, but the defender is seeking a new home after the Spanish side were relegated last season. Schar plays an integral role on Deportivo La Coruna’s back-line and he is also a crucial defender for the Swiss national team.

Prior to joining Deportivo La Coruna in 2017, the 26-year-old defender played for 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany), FC Basel (Switzerland) and FC Wil 1900 (Switzerland). Despite not playing for any major teams at the club level, Schar has been consistent throughout his career and has earned 42 call-ups for Switzerland since 2013.

Rafa Benitez has made it clear that he is looking to add more depth in defense and he might have found his man. Whether this deal actually happens remains to be seen, but Schar would be a great signing for Newcastle.

Experienced Defender

Schar is an interesting player because of his extensive experience playing in three European leagues at the age of 26. Schar is an aggressive defender with good pace and these two attributes enable him to effectively recover the ball.

DUBLIN, IRELAND – MARCH 25: Alan Judge (L) of the Republic of Ireland and Fabian Schar (R) of Switzerland during the international friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland at Aviva Stadium on March 25, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
DUBLIN, IRELAND – MARCH 25: Alan Judge (L) of the Republic of Ireland and Fabian Schar (R) of Switzerland during the international friendly match between the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland at Aviva Stadium on March 25, 2016 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /

With experience playing in the Bundesliga and La Liga, Schar would not need significant time to adapt to the pressure and pace of playing in England. Yes, every European league is different, but having played at such a high level already will only help Schar adjust to English football.

Moreover, Schar would bring much-needed international experience to the Magpies. Schar has played in multiple World Cup and European Cup tournaments for Switzerland alongside notable players, such as Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Potential for Starting Eleven

While most reports suggest that Schar is seen as a key target to provide more depth for Newcastle defensively, I think he would take the starting job from Florian Lejeune. Schar is for sale at a bargain price reportedly around £3 million, but the low price tag is not reflective of his quality.

If Newcastle can strike a deal with Deportivo La Coruna for Schar, the Magpies would have one of the most stable defensive units in the Premier League. It is rare to come across such a talented and experienced player at such a low cost. The current impasse between Rafa Benitez and Mike Ashley is worrisome, but Newcastle would be wise to finalize a deal for Schar.