Newcastle United are keen on a move for Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, according to SBI Soccer.
What’s the latest Newcastle United transfer news?
Manager Steve Bruce is understood to want to reshape his defence and, while the club are likely to bid for Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer, Carter-Vickers could be a target.
Indeed, the report claims Newcastle have held talks with Spurs with the player thought to be valued at around €14m (roughly £9.87m) after a relatively impressive time of things on loan at Bournemouth.
How well has Carter-Vickers played this season?
At 23 and with potential sell-on value, Carter-Vickers would surely appeal to the powers that be at St James’ Park.
According to WhoScored, the American international has averaged 1 tackle, 1.1 interceptions and 3.6 clearances per game this season, which would see him rank twelfth, eighth and fifth in the Newcastle squad respectively. While that may not sound particularly impressive, Bournemouth boasted 55% of the possession during their Championship games in the season just gone so would naturally defend less than Newcastle, with only Norwich and Blackburn averaging more.
Given he’s been noted for his pace – a trait Newcastle are lacking at the back – and still has a lot of his career ahead of him, he would look like an attractive signing, particularly if Federico Fernandez leaves the club this summer.
What has Graeme Jones said about Carter-Vickers?
Newcastle’s assistant coach Graeme Jones worked with Carter-Vickers down at Bournemouth earlier this season (as well as during their time at Luton) and former Cherries boss Jason Tindall revealed it was Jones who recommended the player to him.
“He’s someone that Graeme (Jones) spoke very, very highly of from his time at Luton and seeing him ourselves, he’s a very, very good player,” said Tindall (via The Bournemouth Echo).