Newcastle United are now showing an interest in the Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda amid this month's winter transfer window.

What's the latest?

According to Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Toon are now looking to the La Liga defender, who has "inexhaustible energy", as a potential option to strengthen their backline this month:

"Newcastle are interested in signing Real Valladolid right-back Ivan Fresneda," said Sheth.

Adding a young player like Fresneda could provide Newcastle with a young option to grow and develop under the wing of Trippier who may also be able to help settle the youngster to England having previously spent time in Spain himself.

The youngster has only played a handful of games in La Liga but has already come up against some of the league's finest and was recently hailed for his display against Real Madrid which saw him keep Vinicius Jr quiet.

Strength in depth

Currently, Eddie Howe has Kieran Trippier as his starting right-back at Newcastle and despite only being at the Tyneside club for one year, the England international has already earned the captain's armband.

Trippier's arrival at Newcastle has provided Howe with a highly dependable option in defence and has played a big part in Newcastle's solid backline this season having started every league game this season.

Newcastle have made a sensational start to the 2022/23 campaign and have established themselves as the Premier League's sturdiest defence with just 11 goals being conceded by Nick Pope - which is perhaps even more impressive when considering they have now kept 10 clean sheets.

However, Trippier did arrive on Tyneside with injury issues from his time in Spain with Atletico Madrid and prior to that with Tottenham Hotspur.

And he has already suffered a serious injury at Newcastle having fractured a metatarsal last season which saw the 32-year-old miss 13 games just weeks after signing for the Toon.

Fortunately for Howe, Trippier has remained injury-free this season, but he has now played every league game this season which could potentially leave him susceptible to potential issues down the line.

And - when fit - lying in wait on the bench is Emil Krafth, a player who in 20 league appearances last season was only able to return one assist which is one goal and three assists fewer than Trippier has managed this season.

But the Swede is currently out with a long-term knee injury leaving Howe's options severely limited with Javier Manquillo now the backup right-back on the bench.