Newcastle checked on Ozan Kabak last season, with the centre-back having joined Liverpool on loan back in the January transfer window.

What's the story?

The Magpies could be set for a major revamp of their defence with a number of players finding themselves out of contract and potentially moved on to fund a rebuild.

And, according to The Shields Gazette, Steve Bruce's side have made their checks on Kabak, with QPR's Rob Dickie and Celtic's Kristoffer Ajer also those who have said to have been scouted.

Shades of Sergio Ramos

With Liverpool without the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, Kabak was thrust straight into the deep end by Jurgen Klopp, but that certainly didn't faze him, with the centre-back's maturity something that has been previously lauded.

Thomas Hitzlersperger once commented: "It's incredible how worldy-wise he is for his age. It's astonishing. I see him every day and am amazed at how he mature he is."

In fact, Klopp even revealed that Schalke boss David Wagner said "he would be a future captain", while Arsenal's former head of recruitment Sven Mislintat was equally effusive in his praise of the defender.

He told The Athletic: "I told Jurgen that he’s a top lad. Top mentality, top character, top aggression. He’s a (Dejan) Lovren-type player. Very good in the air, both defensively and in the opposition box.

"He played his best stuff for us (at Stuttgart). He hasn’t been able to show how good he is at Schalke. He still needs to learn but he has all the skills for Klopp to make a success of him."

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That "aggression" and "character" means that it's perhaps no surprise to see the Turkey international likened to Sergio Ramos, with Bundesliga.com writing:

"Kabak has a sound in-game radar and a deceptively quick turn of pace. Powerful in the air and with a great sense of timing, four of his six Bundesliga goals have been headers. He also comes complete with the same bite for which Real captain Ramos has become so well known."

With Liverpool having decided not to take up their option to sign Kabak, the £22.5m-rated ace could well be a shrewd signing for the Magpies.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce could create a formidable Newcastle duo by signing this "unique talent"...