Exclusive: Contact made with Niklas Sule as Newcastle United look to January recruitment drive

Newcastle United have entered talks with Germany and Bayern Munich central defender Niklas Sule's representatives, NewcastleWorld can reveal.

The Magpies are keen to level up their central defensive department in the January window - and have targeted towering centre-back Sule as a winter target.

And according to sources, the player is believed to be open to a move to Tyneside, that despite the club sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League.

Sule, also interesting Chelsea, exactly fits the category of player United are keen to target next year. The defender's pedigree at both international and Champions League level is proven, his size and deceptive pace favourable assets and, key to this, his contract at the Allianz Arena is set to run out next summer.

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Sule's representatives have been locked in talks with the Bayern hierarchy throughout 2021 as coach Julian Nagelsmann looks to tie the player down to a longer-term deal.

However, the club and player are yet to reach an agreement and as a result, the 26-year-old could leave Bayern in June. Sule's contract situation mirrors that of David Alaba, who was allowed to depart after the club were unwilling to match his wage demands.

Reports in Germany suggest Sule is requesting a deal worth around £8million per year to agree to an extension.

Speaking about his future to the German press earlier this season, Sule said: "Of course, I’m thinking about my future, but I really can’t say what it will bring," he told Süddeutsche Zeitung.

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“What I can say: my girlfriend and I are incredibly happy here in Munich, my son was born here, my brother is here, but I still have to first realise what is best for me.

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“I’ll try to stay completely fit and play well when I get the trust of the coach. What will happen in the next weeks or months is completely open.”

United's January transfer policy - driven by a number of footballing representatives from different parts of the consortium, including Frank McParland - will see them explore the prospect of signing players in the final year of their deal, with the hope of getting quality at a reduced value. The likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Jesse Lingard, James Tarkowski and Ousmane Dembele have been considered.