Newcastle United have been linked with a move for a Champions League defender.

It has been a productive end to a summer transfer window full of change for Newcastle United.

Despite the high-profile departures of Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and club captain Bruno Guimaraes, the Magpies are ending the window on a high with Lille star Matias Fernandez-Pardo set to put the finishing touches to a reported £51m move to Tyneside. That comes just a week after United completed the signing of Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez and he wasted little time in making an impression in Saturday’s win at Tottenham Hotspur.

United have been linked with Galatasaray defender Wilfred Singo, who has a release clause of £53m, he is best playing in a back three as he can play both as a centre-back and a full-back. | Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

placeholder image — United have been linked with Galatasaray defender Wilfred Singo, who has a release clause of £53m, he is best playing in a back three as he can play both as a centre-back and a full-back. | Middle East Images/AFP via Getty

Newcastle had strengthened their defence with the addition of Benfica full-back Amar Dedic last month and there were reports suggesting the Magpies were keen on a deal for Galatasaray star Wilfried Songo earlier in the window. The Ivory Coast international was reported as a target for several Premier League clubs during the summer transfer window and one report in Turkey stated Newcastle had made an offer of around £34m to secure his services before they made a successful bid to lure Dedic to Tyneside.

The 25-year-old joined Gala from Monaco in a reported £27m move last summer and he went on to help his new club see off the challenges of Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor to be crowned as Super Lig champions as well as reaching the last 16 of the Champions League before a 4-1 aggregate defeat against Liverpool ended their run.

Newcastle are said to have made a firm offer for Songo earlier in the transfer window as they looked to provide competition across their back four and strengthen Matthias Jaissle’s options ahead of his first season in charge at St James Park. However, journalist Ali Naci Küçük has claimed the versatile defender rejected a move to Newcastle and has stressed his determination to continue impressing with the Turkish giants to earn a move for a higher fee in the future. Speaking on the Dici Futbol YouTube channel: “Newcastle made an official offer of €40m for Singo. Singo responded, ‘No, I don’t want to leave. I want to prove myself and move for a much higher fee later.'”

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