Newcastle United make towering powerhouse number one transfer target - amid huge injury list: report

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe applauds the fans after the team's defeat in the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on April 15, 2023 in Birmingham, England.
(Image credit: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Newcastle United will look to address their extensive absences list with the signing of  a towering powerhouse in the January transfer window.

Right now, Newcastle United are missing Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Lewis Hall, Miguel Almiron, Javier Manquillo, Alexander Isak and Matt Targett all through injury, while Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali are facing suspensions of varying degrees.

Eddie Howe, therefore, is keen to add new faces to the squad in January, with a highly-rated player available in a cut-price deal. 

Sven Botman of Newcastle United FC in action during the UEFA Champions League match between AC Milan and Newcastle United FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

Botman has been missing for a while now (Image credit: Getty Images)

According to The Sun, Newcastle United are keen on bringing Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah to the club in January. 

Standing at 6'5 and described as a "powerhouse" by the German side, Tah has been integral to Leverkusen's impressive start to the season. Having started all 11 games in the Bundesliga this term, Tah has scored three goals and contributed to four clean sheets as Xabi Alonso's team sit at the top of the table - ahead of Bayern Munich - with 31 points from a possible 33. 

While his huge presence naturally means that Tah is commanding in the air, that doesn't diminish his confidence and ability on the ball. Capable of playing through the lines and bringing the ball out from the back, the 27-year-old is integral to adopting Alonso's possession-based philosophy. 

Newcastle United target Jonathan Tah of Leverkusen runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FC Union Berlin at BayArena on November 12, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Mika Volkmann/Getty Images)

Tah is on the radar of Newcastle this January (Image credit: Getty Images)

He'd add real quality to the Newcastle defence, too - especially with Botman and Burn both missing. Tah has Champions League experience and has twice made the Europa League Team of the Season, in 2019/20 and 2022/23. 

The report states that the German centre-back is available for just £20m, with his contract expiring at Leverkusen in June 2025. Transfermarkt values him at £17.5m. 

More Newcastle United stories 

A look at five midfielders Newcastle United could sign to replace Sandro Tonali during his 10-month ban.

Meanwhile, Newcastle have been linked with a £42m England international in the January transfer window.

And Newcastle's long-serving physio discusses the 'volcano' of the takeover with FourFourTwo, plus Eddie Howe's arrival in a dramatic change of fortunes for the Magpies.

Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future. 

Read more
Randal Kolo Muani of Paris Saint-Germain runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid at Parc des Princes on November 06, 2024 in Paris, France.
January transfer window: One player every Premier League club could sign this month
Arsenal target Alexander Isak
Arsenal have found brilliant solution to their problem in signing Alexander Isak: report
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 22: Ange Postecoglou, coach of Tottenham Hotspur speaks with Newcastle United FC coach, Eddie Howe during the exhibition match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Newcastle United FC at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 22, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Newcastle and Tottenham 'closely following' star Julian Nagelsmann is particularly impressed by: report
GIRONA, SPAIN- JANUARY 28: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaks during the UEFA Champions League 202/25 press conference at Estadi Montilivi on January 28, 2025 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal given go-ahead for Alexander Isak bid following Newcastle United bombshell: report
Newcastle United are in a rich run of form
'Because of the way that the rules are structured, no one can afford Alexander Isak. Newcastle United wouldn't even entertain £150m - because they couldn't replace him': Toon legend Alan Shearer explains why striker is SO valuable to Magpies
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal FC at Vitality Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Bournemouth, England.
In-form Arsenal star set for move - with huge €70m fee touted by club chief: report
Latest in Stories
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is expected to sanction plenty of sales this summer
When does the summer transfer window open?
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane.
'I won the World Cup and I said to myself, I've done it all, I need to keep feeling emotions': Raphael Varane opens up on why he had to leave 'indescribable' Real Madrid for Manchester United
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
Latest in News
Manchester United defender Raphael Varane.
'I won the World Cup and I said to myself, I've done it all, I need to keep feeling emotions': Raphael Varane opens up on why he had to leave 'indescribable' Real Madrid for Manchester United
Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta could both do with improving their respective attacks this summer
Arsenal to make bold move for Liverpool star with uncertain Anfield future: report
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 21: Phil Foden of England reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifier between England and Albania at Wembley Stadium on March 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
'When I see Phil Foden play, he just seems like a shy lad - that holds him back a little bit. He has been tried in every position, but he just hasn’t performed': Ex-England star makes bold claim about Manchester City man
Arsenal's William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes embrace each other in celebration at full-time of the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 January, 2025
Arsenal face losing Gabriel AND William Saliba, as new fears arise: report
Kevin De Bruyne of Man City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Ipswich Town FC at Etihad Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Kevin De Bruyne touted for shock move to South American giants: report
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY - MAY 18: Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of AS Roma, celebrates after the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma at BayArena on May 18, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho planning Premier League raid for superstar: report