According to a report by The Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are considering making a move for Deportivo La Coruna centre-back Fabian Schar, who reportedly has a release clause set at £3m in his contract, and Scottish Premiership holders Celtic must hijack any move.

What's the word, then?

Fabian Schar in action for Switzerland

Well, The Chronicle Live says that Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is mulling over a move for the Switzerland international, who is available for a bargain fee following Deportivo's relegation from La Liga last term.

With Chancel Mbemba leaving St James' Park on Monday, it is no surprise that the Spanish boss may want to bring in another body to compete with the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Florian Lejeune and Ciaran Clark for a spot in the starting XI.

The 27-year-old would certainly arrive with plenty of experience having made 114 appearances for FC Basel including in the Champions League, as well as having 42 caps for his country.

He has also shown his goalscoring pedigree with seven goals for Switzerland, while he netted an impressive 15 in those 114 outings for Basel.

Why should Celtic hijack any move?

Well, despite beating Alashkert 6-0 in their opening Champions League qualifying tie, the Bhoys have looked far from secure at the back, with Jozo Simunovic seeing red after just 10 minutes of the second leg against the Armenian outfit.

With him and Jack Hendry potentially not being good enough for a starting spot, and with Dedryck Boyata's future potentially in doubt given he only has a year remaining on his contract and impressed for Belgium at the World Cup, Schar would be a welcome addition.

He would arrive at Celtic Park with experience of playing European football, and he would be a calm head and something of the leader at the back for Brendan Rodgers' men – something the Bhoys, whose majority of fans polled would be willing to sell a key man for £15m this summer, look like they really need.

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