Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a £35 million move for Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings.
According to the Mirror, Newcastle United are targeting Aston Villa centre-back Tyrone Mings over a summer move and could pay up to £35 million to seal his signature. The Magpies are preparing for a major summer overhaul under manager Eddie Howe and have identified Mings as a possible summer signing.
Howe signed the centre-back for Bournemouth in 2015 and the defender spent four years under the Englishman’s tutelage before joining Villa on loan in January 2019. The 29-year-old, however, wasn’t a permanent fixture in the now-Newcastle manager’s plans at Bournemouth, making just 23 appearances under Howe.
The loan move to Villa resurrected his career, and the temporary switch was made permanent just six months later. He has since made 127 appearances for the club, cementing his spot at the heart of the defence.
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard could be willing to part ways with Mings, due to his inconsistent performances in the second half of this season. And as per the aforementioned report, the Villans’ move for Liverpool defender Joe Gomez could ease the pressure in the centre-back department, allowing them to part ways with Mings if the right offer arrives.
Gerrard is believed to be a big admirer of Gomez, who has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield and is their fourth-choice centre-back. His situation isn’t expected to improve anytime soon, and the Englishman could thus prefer a move away from the club this summer.
Villa were interested in signing Gomez on loan in January, but Liverpool reportedly rejected their advancements. The upcoming summer window seems the perfect time for the 24-year-old to move to greener pastures and resurrect his career. Gomez’s potential move to Aston Villa could pave the way for Mings to leave, with Newcastle waiting to pounce.
Newcastle have had a massive change of fortune since Howe took over. They were struggling at 19th in the league table and were without a league win before the former Bournemouth manager’s appointment in November. He has led them to 12 wins since and the club are now placed 12th in the table going into the final matchday of the season. They could even finish in the top half if other results go their way.
With defenders like Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark set to depart in the summer, there will be room for new additions in the centre-back department at St James’ Park. And Mings is a player well-versed with the rigours of the Premier League, who has worked with Howe in the past. So, there is a good chance that a £35 million move could take place in the summer.
