Newcastle United are ready to go head-to-head with Bayern Munich in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach defender Matthias Ginter, according to reports.
The Magpies are set to make their first signing of the January transfer window – and their first under their new owners – after they agreed a £12m fee plus add-ons to sign Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier.
If the rumours are to be believed then it’s the first of many this window as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), who took over Newcastle in October, look to flex their financial muscle in the transfer market.
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The Magpies have been awful in the Premier League this season with just one win and 11 points under their belt in 19 matches.
Amazingly, 19th-placed Newcastle haven’t been cut adrift at the bottom with the Geordies only two points away from 17th-placed Watford and safety.
With a few additions they could start climbing the table under Eddie Howe, who guided them to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in their last match.
And Inter Live now claims that Gladbach defender Ginter is the latest man on their January wishlist as they compete with Bayern Munich for his signature.
Inter Milan, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with Ginter but the report reckons it will be Newcastle to ‘challenge’ the Bavarians for the Germany international.
Bayern are ‘very serious’ about Ginter but the Premier League side now have the ‘economic strength to tempt’ the centre-back into a move to Tyneside.
It’s likely that Ginter would find it hard to refuse the pull of Bayern but he would ‘guarantee a better salary’ if he move to Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one player who is interesting Newcastle and former winger Jermaine Pennant reckons there is “every chance” the Geordies can sign the striker.
“As a professional footballer, it doesn’t matter, you want to play football,” Pennant told Stadium Astro.
“And, if it is not happening at Arsenal, he won’t want to sit there on the weekend watching his teammates play while he is sat at home, he will want to play football.
“He’s a great player and he will want to showcase that. It could be a chance to get another big move off the back of that. Getting stripped of a captaincy, there is not really much coming back from that.
“We know he is not going to be a starter, we know he’s not going to get much game time. There is every chance this Newcastle deal could come off, for sure.”
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