Newcastle interested in Gabriel and Hill, £25m spend sanctioned and exit imminent

We’ve reached the halfway point of the January transfer window, and it’s been a pretty quiet month so far. With Fabian Schar ruled out for three months and Tino Livramento set to be sidelined for eight weeks, Newcastle need defensive reinforcements. On that note, it’s interesting to see a few new links following talk of a right-sided centre-back arriving, along with an update on Jamaal Lascelles’ future.

Two centre-backs linked with £25m set aside

Tiago Gabriel and James Hill are the latest names to emerge in our hunt for a new right-sided centre-back.

Starting with Craig Hope at The Mail, he reports that Newcastle have been watching Lecce star Tiago Gabriel, who has impressed in Serie A this season.

The towering 21-year-old is a Portuguese youth international that’s clearly on our radar, with Hope adding that Newcastle have set aside £25m should the right centre-back become available this month.

Moving to Mark Douglas at The iPaper, he reveals that Bournemouth’s James Hill is a player that is admired by scouts at the club, although the arrival of an overseas centre-back is considered more realistic this month.

Douglas adds that Giorgio Scalvini does not appear to be an option this month, however, despite the Italian being open to a switch to St James’ Park.

Toulouse’s Dayann Methalie, a powerful left-back who can also play at centre-back, remains one to watch, but it’s thought our ongoing interest in the French Under-21 star is more likely to rear its head later in the month.

Lascelles going, Targett staying on Teesside?

Back to Craig Hope, he reveals that Jamaal Lascelles has ‘almost certainly’ played his last game for the club and is on the lookout for a move.

West Ham are one option being explored, with the Hammers battling to stay up and recently losing Konstaninos Mavropanos to injury.

Lascelles is out of contract this summer and has only appeared twice this season, both from the bench.

Elsewhere, Matt Targett is now expected to stay at Middlesbrough despite suggestions he could be recalled from his loan spell at the Riverside.

The player is keen to play regularly and it’s thought his loan move at Boro could be turned into a permanent one this summer, with Eddie Howe and Ross Wilson likely to respect his wishes to stay on Teesside.