OPINION
Newcastle United must pull out all of the stops to prize Brighton left-back Markus Suttner away from the Amex Stadium in January with the club desperate for reinforcements in the role.
Rafa Benitez usually plumps with usual first-choice Paul Dummett, but now that he has got himself injured playing for Wales in the UEFA Nations League during mid week, the position is now looking painfully thin in terms of reinforcements.
Javier Manquillo, Achraf Lazaar and Kenedy are all on call to deputise if necessary, but in an ideal world, Benitez would want a player who specialises in this position more so than the crop he has already got.
The Spaniard must look no further than Brighton’s Suttner – as he could be the perfect answer to United’s ongoing issues at left-back.
The 31-year-old has been really struggling for game time this season – especially as Chris Hughton prefers to use Gaetan Bong as his first choice – and only has one appearance this season in the shape of a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
That would therefore mean that the defender would be open-minded about a move away from the South Coast, particularly if he is after the much sought-after game time.
Suttner has 207 appearances to his name in the Bundesliga, and in the outings he has had with the Seagulls, he has looked very assured on the ball and rather effective going forward.
He is on £25,000-a-week [Spotrac] with Brighton, which a weekly wage that Newcastle would be able to afford at the moment.
The Chronicle has previously reported that United’s managing director Lee Charnley wanted to greenlight a bid for a new left-back, and there is no doubt that St James’ Park would erupt at thought of an experienced ace like Suttner joining the ranks.
