Newcastle look to add Marcão to a crowded group of central defenders

According to reports, Newcastle United may be adding another player to a position with a lot of depth.

If you looked over the Newcastle United roster on paper following last season, most of the positions across the pitch could use an upgrade or more depth. But, the one position that wouldn’t included in that discussion would be center-back, where the Magpies have a lot of quality depth. However, the club seems to want to add more with a move for a Brazilian central defender becoming more likely.

Newcastle United are reportedly looking to bring Marcão to the club from Galatasaray. The 24-year-old has made 60 appearances for the Turkish powerhouse, including six in the Champions League.

On film, he looks to have good mobility and his passing ability jumps out at you. He’s able to pick out passes and deliver a ball with his preferred left foot. With Florian Lejeune often battling injury, Steve Bruce could be looking to lock down his left-sided, left-footed center-back of the future.

If he arrives, Marcão would join a group that already includes no fewer than six players (Clark, Dummett, Fernandez, Lascelles, Lejeune, Schar), but that also feature Arsenal’s Rob Holding on loan. Bruce would be adding to a position that doesn’t require a signing and especially not two.

Fernandez and Clark are the only players in that group that are in their 30s and while there are some contracts winding down, center-back depth should be so far down the list of priorities. Also, Marcão isn’t a bargain bin purchase. The price tag discussed is around 20 million, a massive chunk of Newcastle’s reported budget for this window.