A big claim has been made on Newcastle United transfer target Tyrone Mings, regarding his future at Aston Villa...
What's the talk?
Journalist Luke Hatfield has suggested that the Midlands club could be tempted to cash in on the centre-back if an offer comes in from the Magpies, who have recently been linked with the England international.
"You never say never with football. If an offer comes in from Newcastle or any other club that Villa see as acceptable, maybe it's one they'll consider."
Delight
Newcastle fans will surely be delighted with this claim from Hatfield as he has left the door ajar for a potential move to St. James' Park for Mings in the January transfer window. He does not think a deal is impossible for the club to complete, with Villa potentially willing to do business at the right price.
The 3-3 draw with Brentford at the weekend highlighted the need for defensive reinforcements ahead of the second half of the campaign, as the Magpies are conceding goals at an alarming rate. Eddie Howe's team are 20th in the table and the only team in the division yet to win a game, whilst they are also without their first clean sheet of the league season.
They are currently conceding 2.3 goals per game in the Premier League, whilst scoring 1.3, and it does not take a genius to work out that they are on course to lose the majority of their games if these statistics persist. This is why signing an experienced, proven, defender in the form of Mings could be a terrific signing and one that leaves fans buzzing.
Mings, 28, has been capped 16 times by England and has made 97 Premier League appearances in his career for Bournemouth and Villa, with 102 matches for the latter in all competitions. Last season, he helped his side to keep 14 clean sheets in 36 league matches, showing that he has the quality to be a crucial part of a solid defence at this level.
This is why Newcastle fans will be delighted with the prospect of the defender arriving on Tyneside in January, with Hatfield's comments suggesting that a deal is certainly a possibility. The Three Lions centre-back could help to improve Howe's defence and increase their chances of keeping clean sheets and, in turn, picking up points that keeps them in the division.
AND in other news, Shearer 2.0: Howe could get St. James' rocking with NUFC deal for "incredible" beast...