Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Leander Dendoncker, who is also a deadline-day target for West Ham United.
According to The Athletic, Newcastle United have been offered the chance to sign wantaway Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Leander Dendoncker. West Ham United are also interested in a deadline-day swoop for the 27-year-old Portuguese enforcer and have reportedly enquired about his availability.
Since joining Wolves from Anderlecht in 2018, the Belgian international has made over 150 appearances for the West Midlands outfit, chipping in with 12 goals and four assists in the process. The 27-year-old struggled with injuries and form last season, slipping further down the pecking order at Wolves in recent weeks.
Dendoncker is now fourth-choice following the arrival of Matheus Nunes. Wolves smashed their transfer record to capture the highly-coveted 24-year-old, who will be a mainstay alongside Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho in the starting XI. Dendoncker has only one year left on his contract at the Molineux, although Wolves do have an option to extend it by another year.
The 27-year-old reportedly wants to leave Wolves in search of regular football as he wants to avoid any possibility of jeopardising his chances of being called up to Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to a lack of action. Needless to say, Dendoncker is a player who has become the subject of increased interest thanks to his Premier League proven status.
Everton have been chasing Dendoncker and have had an offer of £8.5 million turned down for him, but a deal with the Toffees is reported to have collapsed. Now, with a move to Everton off the cards and the player pushing for an exit, he has been floated towards Newcastle’s way.
It is well-documented that Newcastle are in the market to add a holding midfielder to their squad following a long-term injury to playmaker Jonjo Shelvey. The Magpies also let their only defensive-minded option in the middle of the park leave earlier this summer as Isaac Hayden was loaned out to Norwich City.
Currently, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff have operated as No. 6. But Eddie Howe wants a more athletic and physical defensive midfield option. Dendoncker would fit the bill for Newcastle. A natural defensive midfielder, the 27-year-old sits like a rock in front of the backline with a high volume of defensive actions and is very dynamic and steely. His presence would certainly bring the best out of the Magpies’ attacking players.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has also come out to claim that the 27-year-old is also attracting interest from West Ham United. The Hammers are looking to bolster their midfield and defence before the transfer deadline, and Dendoncker is firmly on David Moyes’s radar.
West Ham’s interest in Dendoncker is intriguing because Wolves are currently linked with Craig Dawson. The 32-year-old is viewed as a replacement for Willy Boly, who is joining Nottingham Forest. It remains to be seen whether a swap deal will take place on the deadline day, or if two separate deals occur.
