Newcastle United are still looking for a new right-back this month amid links to emerge over an interest in the Inter Milan star, Denzel Dumfries.

What's the latest?

It has been reported during the January transfer window that the Magpies had made a new right-back one of their priorities this month.

And a player of interest had been reported as the Real Valladolid youngster Ivan Fresneda, however, it seems as if Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have stolen a march on the Toon.

There have also been links to the likes of West Ham United's Harrison Ashby emerging as a potential backup plan to the Spanish youngster.

However, speaking on BBC's Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, journalist Luke Edwards has claimed a move for Dumfries would make a lot of sense:

(3:40) "I know Newcastle are looking for a right wing-back but they mainly wanted one as a backup to Kieran Trippier. So I'm a little bit suspicious about it just because those three names of clubs [Manchester United, Chelsea & Newcastle] would be the ideal scenario to create a market for your player.

"However, I can see - and this is strange - I can see the sense in all of those, if I'm honest."

Competition at right-back

The arrival of Kieran Trippier at right-back last January has been a revelation on Tyneside with the 32-year-old quickly establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.

However, there does seem to be an issue in their squad depth behind Trippier with the likes of Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo the options Eddie Howe has to rely upon.

And with this in mind, it is totally understandable why Newcastle may look to bring in another player in that position this month.

The addition of a young prospect like Fresneda or Ashby would make a lot of sense as it would allow Trippier to continue as the starting right-back but potentially see him take the young signing under his wing.

For now, Trippier is showing little signs of slowing down in a Newcastle shirt meaning there would be time for the young player to develop for when the time comes.

That time will likely come in the next few years but we do wonder whether this means a deal for Dumfries wouldn't actually make much sense.

The Dutchman is still only 26-years-old and having made 13 starts for Inter in Serie A this season, we would struggle to imagine him being willing to sit in wait for the day Trippier needs to be replaced.

With Howe having built a squad around 'humble lads' the notion of having a current Champions League calibre wing-back sitting in wait on the bench would feel like a recipe for disaster.

And given the success Trippier is currently having on Tyneside, it is hard to imagine Howe being willing to set him back in the pecking order for a player with no Premier League experience.