Newcastle United are reportedly monitoring Leeds United defender Cody Drameh ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
What's the word?
According to the Daily Mail, the Magpies - as well as Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund - are currently 'keeping tabs' on the promising full-back, with the 20-year-old having struggled for game time at Elland Road this season, making just one Premier League appearance.
The Tynesiders could well take advantage of that fact by pouncing when the market re-opens in the winter, having targetted a young right-back recruit during the summer amid their late interest in West Ham United prospect, Harrison Ashby.
This latest report suggests that the latter man remains a target alongside Drameh to provide further cover for first-choice option Kieran Trippier, with the northeast side said to have 'doubts' regarding both Javier Manquillo and the injured Emil Krafth.
Ditch Manquillo
As stated above, the Leeds gem has found himself somewhat out of the picture under Jesse Marsch due to the presence of Rasmus Kristensen and Luke Ayling, although the youngster remains an undoubted talent regardless, having shone on loan at Cardiff City last season.
The £3.5m-rated sensation - who has just seven senior outings to his name at his parent club - was lauded for his "phenomenal" form with the Bluebirds by former boss Steve Morison, racking up 22 appearances in the second tier in the second half of last term, registering three assists.
Despite having only arrived in Wales in January, the former Fulham gem - who left Craven Cottage back in 2020 - made such an impression that he was named the Championship side's Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season.
Adding such a talent to Eddie Howe's ranks could well allow the former Bournemouth boss to finally ditch struggling asset, Manquillo, with the long-serving Spaniard having been on the periphery at St James' Park in recent times.
The 28-year-old has racked up 106 appearances in all competitions for his current side since joining from Atletico Madrid just over five years ago, although the former Liverpool man has only featured twice this season, including just a ten-minute substitute appearance against Southampton last weekend.
The one-time Sunderland loanee has only made 15 outings in total since Howe's appointment just over a year ago, having notably been criticised for his "awful defending" last season by journalist Luke Edwards.
While the £35k-per-week dud did start during the midweek win over Crystal Palace, he was unable to make the most of that rare opportunity to impress, having been hooked after just 66 minutes on the night.
It may well have come time for Manquillo to find a new home, with Newcastle likely better served to have a younger backup to the aforementioned Trippier, such as Drameh, who can learn of the England man and eventually replace him in the coming years.