Newcastle United are lining up a move for Niklas Sule, according to reports...

What's the word?

NewcastleWorld journalist Liam Kennedy has revealed that the Magpies have entered talks with the Germany and Bayern Munich defender ahead of the January transfer window.

The northeast outfit are keen to bolster Eddie Howe's backline this winter and it is believed the central defender is open to a move despite the club occupying a place in the relegation zone.

Sule, who has also been a target for Chelsea in recent times, is out of contract at the Allianz Arena in the summer and the Bundesliga giants are yet to strike a fresh long-term agreement with him.

Bayern haven't been afraid to let some of their big names depart for nothing after David Alaba was allowed to leave for Real Madrid this off-season.

Defensive fix

Howe has a massive task on his hands, not at least because of the pressure that he will be under to lead this exciting new era to glory. Indeed, United occupy a place in the dropzone and will likely be in a dogfight for the remainder of the current campaign.

One of their biggest issues has been in defence, where Steve Bruce's backline has leaked goals for fun.

Only rock-bottom Norwich City (20) have conceded more times from open play than the Magpies (16), whilst the side have been amongst the most error-prone in the division, having conceded more goals from penalties (four) than any other team and committed the most fouls (24), as per WhoScored.

Bruce and then Graeme Jones often opted for a back three, in which Ciaran Clark (6.50), Jamaal Lascelles (6.40) and Federico Fernandez (6.37) have racked up the most minutes but all three are outside the Magpies' top-seven best performers, via WhoScored ratings.

It's evident that a new centre-back or two is required in January, certainly if Howe is to stand a chance at keeping the Saudi-backed giants in the big time.

Sule has vast experience across Europe's biggest competitions as well as on the international stage - the £31.5m-rated beast has racked up 37 caps, and has a Champions League winners' medal and four Bundesliga titles to his name.

Even though he has been at a stalemate with the club, Julian Nagelsmann has still trusted him to start regularly in the league, earning a respectable average WhoScored rating of 7.00.

"He also has everything that a world-class central defender needs," claimed the Bayern boss to Sport Bild (via the Metro).

At 6 foot 5, Sule still offers a rare combination of pace and power that has led to teammate Thomas Muller describing him as "difficult to stop", whilst he has also earned the praise of being "world-class" from Jupp Heynkes and a "great defender" by Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

If PIF want to hand Howe the best chances of turning things around, then they must sanction a move for the German powerhouse this January.

AND in other news, PIF can revolutionise Newcastle United by hiring 56 y/o supreme in "huge coup"...