Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing FC Porto’s 24-year-old Nigerian left-back Zaidu Sanusi.
According to Jornal de Noticias, as relayed by Sport Witness, Newcastle United have been credited with an interest in FC Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi and Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo as potential options in their hunt for a left-back this month.
With little over a week left in the winter transfer window, the Magpies are stepping up their efforts to shore up their leaky defence to boost their Premier League survival bid in the latter half of the campaign. Newcastle United have already bolstered the right-back slot by landing Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, and it seems Eddie Howe also wants to improve the other side of the backline.
The Magpies have shown interest in Atalanta’s Robin Gosens, but rumours have cooled lately, with the Magpies shifting focus towards Bayer Leverkusen left-back Mitchel Bakker and tabling a £14.5 million bid to sign the 21-year-old. But as per Portuguese outlet Jornal de Noticias, they are also monitoring other possible targets, including Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi and Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo.
Sanusi joined Porto in the summer of 2020 after impressing at fellow Portuguese club Santa Clara. The 24-year-old was unearthed by Sergio Conceicao and finished his first year with 41 competitive appearances for the Dragoes, featuring in all of their Champions League fixtures while also starring in the Round of 16 tie against Juventus, knocking the Italian giants out of the competition.
Indeed, the Nigerian’s hugely effective displays at left-back have not gone unnoticed across the continent, even though he was largely out of favour earlier this term. But he has recently regained the first-choice left-back status at the club. But Sanusi is open to leaving Porto, meaning his future is likely to be in the spotlight for the next few days.
Although Newcastle United are well-stocked at left-back, they lack quality options. Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis have been in and out of the team, with the former being injury-prone while the latter has not kicked on ever since joining from Norwich City. Matt Ritchie, who had filled in the position earlier this season, is actually a winger and lacks the know-how to be a dominant full-back.
Sanusi would be a very smart addition for Newcastle. He is incredibly athletic, has bundles of pace and is a huge asset both defensively and in the final third. Whether the Magpies make a move for Grimaldo or Sanusi remains to be seen.
