“No More Guehi”: Newcastle ‘in contact’ over £34M Roma defender – Agent talk to sea deal
The summer transfer rumor mill has churned out another intriguing possibility for Newcastle United, with reports emerging of contact between the Magpies and AS Roma regarding defender Evan Ndicka.
The 25-year-old Ivorian international, coming off a season where he didn’t miss a single Serie A match for the Giallorossi, presents an interesting option as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his defensive ranks ahead of their Champions League campaign.
Italian outlet LaRoma24 suggests Newcastle and Arsenal have both inquired about Ndicka’s availability, with Roma slapping a £34 million price tag on their “most reliable” defender from last season.
This valuation represents a significant markup for a player they acquired on a free transfer just two years ago from Eintracht Frankfurt – where coincidentally, Newcastle had previously scouted the center-back during the 2022 summer window.
Why Ndicka Fits Newcastle’s Profile
- Durability – Played every league game last season (3,420 minutes)
- Left-Footed Balance – Would complement Sven Botman’s right-footedness
- European Experience – 22 Champions League appearances
- Prime Age – At 25, entering peak defensive years
- Aerial Dominance – Won 68% of aerial duels in Serie A last term
However, legitimate questions arise about the timing and motivation behind these links. With Botman established as Newcastle’s left-sided center-back, Ndicka’s arrival would require either a tactical reshuffle or the Dutch international shifting to the right – neither being straightforward solutions.
This has led to speculation that Newcastle’s name may be leveraged to generate broader interest or improve contract terms elsewhere.
Newcastle’s defensive recruitment strategy appears to be considering multiple avenues:
- Premier League Proven (Marc Guéhi)
- High-Potential Youngsters (Ousmane Diomande)
- Established European Talent (Ndicka)
The reported £34m asking price for Ndicka sits in the middle of Newcastle’s expected spending range for a center-back, making the link plausible financially.
Yet the tactical fit remains questionable unless Howe envisions a system change or views Ndicka as capable of playing the right center-back role despite being left-footed.
As with many summer transfer stories, the truth likely lies somewhere between genuine interest and agent maneuvering.
What’s clear is that Newcastle are casting a wide net in their search for defensive reinforcements, with Ndicka representing one of several options being explored to upgrade a backline that conceded 48 Premier League goals last season.
The coming weeks will reveal whether these links develop into concrete negotiations or fade away as another name added to the Magpies’ extensive scouting dossier.
For now, Evan Ndicka remains an intriguing but unconfirmed piece in Newcastle’s complex summer transfer puzzle.