---
title: "Newcastle: Fabrizio Romano says Magpies eyeing Ozan Kabak"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-fabrizio-romano-says-magpies-eyeing-ozan-kabak/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-08-25T06:35:14Z"
modified: "2021-08-25T06:35:14Z"
---

# Newcastle: Fabrizio Romano says Magpies eyeing Ozan Kabak

**Newcastle are interested in Schalke 04’s Ozan Kabak, according to [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1429920998632132608?s=21).**

### The lowdown

Kabak will be familiar to Newcastle supporters off the back of his loan spell at Liverpool in the latter half of last season.

In fact, the Turkish international [played the full 90 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/leistungsdaten/spieler/361260/plus/0?saison=2020) when the two sides drew 1-1 at Anfield at the end of April.

That was [one of 13 Reds appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/leistungsdaten/spieler/361260/plus/0?saison=2020) for the 21-year-old, who returned to Germany after Liverpool [declined to trigger their £18million option to buy](https://theathletic.com/news/liverpool-transfer-news-ozan-kabak/AwQWdKH31vXk).

He’s valued at £22.5million by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ozan-kabak/leistungsdaten/spieler/361260/plus/0?saison=2020), but it should be noted that Schake, who were relegated to the second tier at the end last season, currently [face a mountain of debt](https://www.dw.com/en/schalke-relegated-from-the-bundesliga-the-inside-story-of-a-royal-case-of-the-blues/a-57184763-0).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”364000″\]

### The latest

Newcastle’s interest has yet to progress to an ‘official bid’, but the same can’t be said of Serie A outfit Torino.

They proposed a loan with an option to buy, and while they were rebuffed by Schalke, who prefer a permanent deal, talks between the two clubs are still ‘on’.

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1429920998632132608?s=21

### The verdict

Kabak performed well for Liverpool in very difficult circumstances, with the Reds hobbled by a [succession of injuries](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55897340). He would be an excellent buy for Newcastle, particularly if a cut-price deal is possible due to Schalke’s precarious financial situation.

This is a player who should still be regarded as one of the most exciting up-and-coming centre-halves in the European game given the praise he earned from Jurgen Klopp, who called him ‘[an amazing talent](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-klopp-ozan-kabak-fabinho-20137047)‘.

Indeed, the Magpies could really do with signing a centre-back in the remaining week of the transfer window. According to [The Athletic’s Chris Waugh](https://theathletic.co.uk/2771221/2021/08/15/newcastle-need-left-sided-centre-half-pace-need-one-quickly/), that’s now top of their priority list.

**In other news, [Waugh offered this verdict on Bruce’s future](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-chris-waugh-thinks-steve-bruces-job-is-safe/).**