This article is part of Football FanCast's The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... 

Newcastle don’t look as though they’ll be too active in January.

Steve Bruce has recognised the difficulty of signing players in the winter window while it’s been claimed that loan additions are the order of the day, rather than permanent captures.

That being said, one man they’re still tracking is Benoit Badiashile. The £16.2m-rated Monaco defender has been linked with the top six in the past so this would be a statement buy if they could land him.

Over the summer, he was the subject of interest from Manchester United while murmurs of a move to Chelsea have also cropped up in recent months.

But what he could bring to the northeast side if they signed him instead?

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On the chalkboard

The teenager has had a bit of a mixed spell in Ligue 1 this term, being dragged off against Bordeaux at the weekend on 75 minutes after failing to make a tackle.

But for the most part, he’s been a consistent figure, someone that’s improving all the time at the tender age of just 18.

Strong in the air, winning 3.3 aerial duels per game, he’s also demonstrated fantastic ball-playing abilities and a sense of composure that is arguably lacking from Newcastle’s backline.

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Boasting a pass accuracy of 84.9%, that puts him above both Jamaal Lascelles and Fabian Schar. In fact, it would put him above all of the Magpies’ current defenders.

But it’s not just that aspect of his game that would improve Newcastle, it’s his ability to slot into a back three – the current system being operated by Steve Bruce.

On that evidence, he’d be perfect and should have no problems fitting into Newcastle’s style.

Monaco are currently playing with a three-man defence in Ligue 1 and at times, Badiashile has starred while playing as the left centre-half.

He won five aerial duels in a recent encounter against Dijon, making three interceptions and four clearances at the same time, via WhoScored. His level of concentration is something that could benefit a Newcastle team that usually have to defend for large periods of the game.

Sitting in 14^th, they rarely dominate the play and have had just 38.3% of the possession on average each match.

Standing at 6 foot 4, he is a colossal frame who could certainly help Bruce’s side keep possession more effectively.

In other news, check out what Newcastle's stance on a potential £20m signing is...