Newcastle United are reportedly in a battle Aston Villa and Fulham for Danish centre-back Victor Nelsson from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
According to Fichajes, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Fulham could reportedly be involved in a transfer battle for Danish central defender Victor Nelson, who has recently asked to leave Galatasaray after extensive links to Premier League and La Liga clubs.
Nelsson made his name in his homeland with FC Copenhagen before sealing a move to Turkey last year. Galatasaray paid €7 million to recruit him, and it appears the investment proved worth it. The 23-year-old centre-back has been a regular for the Turkish club and was a bright spark in a dismal 2021/22 campaign for them as they finished in a lowly 13th position in the Super Lig table.
However, Galatasaray could turn a quick profit by cashing in on him after his busy debut season as they look to reinvest that amount in their squad. Nelsson has already made 47 appearances in all competitions for the club, while his impressive performances in the UEFA Europa League have caught the eye of onlookers, with a host of top clubs interested in him.
La Liga giants Sevilla looked like the most obvious destination for the 23-year-old, with the Andalusian club looking to reconstruct their defence after losing Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos this summer. But negotiations between Sevilla and Galatasaray have stalled, and the interest from several English clubs could scupper the arrival of the Danish defender at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
It is noted that Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Fulham are all vying for the 23-year-old’s services. Aston Villa, for one, have already strengthened their rearguard by signing Diego Carlos. But there is still a feeling that they need to further boost their defensive options before the end of the transfer window.
Aston Villa’s sporting director, Johan Lange, knows Nelsson from his time at Copenhagen and wants to bring the promising defender to Villa Park this summer to address the centre-back issue. Meanwhile, newly-promoted Fulham have recently signed Issa Diop from West Ham for £15 million.
But Marco Silva’s side are still in the market for another defender to add depth, with Tim Ream not a Premier League option at 35 years old, making Nelsson a viable option for Fulham. Newcastle are also reported to be keen on signing Nelsson. While Eddie Howe has no shortage of central defenders, Nelsson is renowned for his height, composure and ball-playing attributes.
At 23, he would represent a solid investment for the future too as they look to climb up the Premier League ladder. It remains to be seen whether any of Aston Villa, Fulham and Newcastle will make a move for the 23-year-old centre-back.
