Newcastle Backed To Complete Defender Deal But Warned Off Man Utd Midfielder

Jose Enrique has backed his former club Newcastle in their bid to bring in Brazilian defender Diego Carlos after his move to Tyneside appeared to hit a stumbling block.

The transfer is now unlikely to go through this month after Sevilla sporting director Monchi admitted it wasn’t the “right time,” but Enrique has said he hopes they can get a deal done at some stage.

“If that deal happens, it will be massive,” Enrique told BoyleSports.

“He’s a player I know very well and he’s top quality. They definitely need a centre back because defensively they’ve been struggling. They maybe need a left-back as well.

“But people have to realise that the January transfer window for Newcastle, being in the relegation zone, is not very open. Even if they pay a lot of money it’s not easy to sign players.”

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Meanwhile, hopes of a move for Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard also appear to be fading, but the former Magpies left-back has said he doubts whether they should be chasing the England international.

Lingard has been restricted to just 88 minutes of Premier League football this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford.

“Jesse Lingard is a very good player when he’s on form,” Enrique added.

“Obviously Eddie Howe knows better, but long term I don’t know if he’s the right player. Off the field, he’s not my kind of player if I was a manager.

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“Kieran Trippier is a massive signing; he won the league with Atletico Madrid and he’s a player who puts everything into his game. Chris Wood is also a player they needed because they have Joelinton playing more as a midfielder.

“If Steve Bruce signed this kind of player people would probably have criticised him, because he’s a typical big number nine. But I really like Wood and he’ll bring something to the team.”

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More on Jose Enrique:
Jose Enrique is a former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

He played for a number of Spanish teams as well as Newcastle United and Liverpool in the Premier League.

He retired through injury in 2017 when back in Spain with Real Zaragoza.

He now works as a football pundit and media personality for outlets such as the well-reknowned Empire of the Kop.