Newcastle need to bolster their defensive ranks in the January transfer window

As Newcastle United’s search to sign a new defender this month continues, Club Brugge left-back Joaquin Seys is the latest name to be linked with a move to St James’ Park.

The 20-year-old has emerged as a key player for the Belgian giants over the last 18 months and already has two caps for the Belgium national team to his name.

The Magpies are in the midst of a defensive injury crisis that has left them with only four fit recognised senior defenders.

Tino Livramento, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are all currently out through injury and that has brought forward the need to sign a defender this month.

United need cover for a right-sided centre-half, while Lewis Hall remains the only left-back option. And that has led to links with Seys, who is deemed as one of the brightest left-back prospects in European football.

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Seys has been an ever-present for Club Brugge this season, making 32 appearances across all competitions, and he has three goals and two assists to his name in nine Champions League appearances this term.

His progress at the Jan Breydel Stadium has been rapid and manager Ivan Leko has already admitted he sees Seys’ future in the Premier League.

“Joel Ordonez and Joaquin Seys, I see them absolutely in the Premier League one day if everything goes normal,” Leko told DAZN.

“If they stay humble, working hard, with the potential what they have, this is Premier League level.

“I will say Premier League up to medium, for sure, now. You never know in football what tomorrow brings.”

Italian giants Roma are also said to be monitoring Seys’ situation, with his contract at Brugge ending in 2029.

Newcastle United’s sporting director Ross Wilson hinted at a shift in recruitment policy where the Magpies will look for greater value signings from outside of the Premier League, while it is thought younger players will be targeted to bring down the average age of the United squad.

Seys clearly fits that bill and, interestingly, a report from the Athletic in the summer suggested he was on a list of full-back targets at Nottingham Forest, where Wilson was previously sporting director.