---
title: "Newcastle United: PIF in ‘contact’ over Mitchel Bakker"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/bayer-leverkusen-transfer-news-bakker-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-05-05T20:35:49Z"
modified: "2022-05-05T20:35:49Z"
---

# Newcastle United: PIF in ‘contact’ over Mitchel Bakker

**The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF) are reportedly now in ‘contact’ to sign Mitchel Bakker for [Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) this summer.**

### The Lowdown: January offer

It was [reported](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/tmw-newcastle-niente-gosens-bakker-e-vicino-offerta-da-20-milioni-1637674) back in the January transfer window that the St. James’ Park faithful were close to signing Bakker from Bayer Leverkusen after making an offer, but the deal hit a stumbling block.

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-6/)

His representatives even [reportedly](https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transferts-newcastle-offre-20-m-et-8364-pour-mitchel-bakker-leverkusen/1313193) travelled to the North East in order to try and push through the move, but in the end nothing materialised, and Bakker remains at Leverkusen.

### The Latest: ‘Contact’ made

As per [SportBILD](https://sportbild.bild.de/) (via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/newcastle-maintaining-contact-january-target-want-make-new-offer-belief-player-will-move/)), ‘contact’ with Bakker and his management over a potential move to Tyneside is still ongoing after the January bid, and they are now ready to ‘make a new offer’ for him in the summer.

\[freshpress-poll id=”386122″\]

It is not clear whether his valuation is the same as it was last window, but nonetheless it seems as if the Magpies are now lining up a new bid.

### The Verdict: Depends on Targett

It has been [reported](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-transfer-news-matt-targett-transfer-stance-changes-eddie-howe/) that the Toon will look to sign Matt Targett from Aston Villa on a permanent deal after impressing while on loan, meaning that they would have the left-back spot covered, and so signing Bakker as well would not seem like a smart move.

However, if any deal for Targett fell through, then the Dutchman could be a great alternative.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389224″\]

Described as a player who has ‘pace and strength’ as well as ‘footballing ability’ (via [The Chronicle](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/mitchel-bakker-newcastle-united-transfer-22847717)) by Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller, the six-foot-one menace would suit Premier League football very well, and at just 21 years of age, he has a lot of potential.

Nonetheless, the club have to see what happens with Targett first of all, before pursuing a deal for the Bundesliga left-back.

[***In other news, find out who is now ‘close’ to returning for NUFC here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/man-city-team-news-callum-wilson-injury/)