---
title: "Newcastle: Report reveals Maya Yoshida interest"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-report-reveals-maya-yoshida-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-12-21T13:45:28Z"
modified: "2021-12-21T13:45:28Z"
---

# Newcastle: Report reveals Maya Yoshida interest

**Sampdoria are bracing themselves for a Newcastle United approach for defender Maya Yoshida, according to [TuttoMercatoWeb](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/la-samp-attiva-sul-mercato-nonostante-tutto-ranieri-chiama-due-big-faggiano-cerca-gli-eredi-1623854).**

### The lowdown

The Japanese defender is probably best known on these shores for his eight-year stint at Southampton, during which he made [154 Premier League appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/maya-yoshida/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/81789/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/180) and helped the Saints reach the final of the 2016/17 EFL Cup. The Athletic’s Carl Anka wrote that he had been a [‘superb’](https://twitter.com/Ankaman616/status/1231213444281569282) servant at St Mary’s.

Now 33, the Japan international is a regular under Roberto D’Aversa at Sampdoria, having started [14 of their 18](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/maya-yoshida/leistungsdaten/spieler/81789) Serie A matches so far this season.

Newcastle, who have [comfortably the worst defensive record](https://understat.com/league/EPL) in the Premier League with 41 goals conceded, may well be in the market for a new centre-back in January. Indeed, [they have already been linked](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-double-ben-mee-james-25631019) with Burnley duo James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.

### The latest

The report from [TuttoMercatoWeb](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/la-samp-attiva-sul-mercato-nonostante-tutto-ranieri-chiama-due-big-faggiano-cerca-gli-eredi-1623854) stated that Yoshida is one of many Sampdoria players who are in demand, with fellow centre-back Omar Colley, midfielder Morten Thorsby and right-back Bartosz Bereszinsky also attracting interest from prospective suitors.

The expectation is that Newcastle, and by extension their [new transfer consultant](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/12497903/nick-hammond-newcastle-hire-former-celtic-and-reading-director-of-football-as-transfer-consultant-on-short-term-deal) Nick Hammond, will make an enquiry about signing Yoshida.

### The verdict

It’s perhaps surprising to see Yoshida’s emerge in the Newcastle transfer conversation. He will turn 34 at the start of next season, putting him well beyond the [average footballer’s peak years](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28254123).

He should come quite cheap, though – he’s valued at just £2.88m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/maya-yoshida/leistungsdaten/spieler/81789) and is approaching the final six months of his contract at Sampdoria. Intriguingly, according to [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/caffaf5a/Maya-Yoshida), he’s stylistically very similar to fellow Magpies target Tarkowski.

He’s still performing reasonably well, winning [60% of his duels overall](https://www.sofascore.com/player/maya-yoshida/24248) and [70% of his aerial battles](https://www.sofascore.com/player/maya-yoshida/24248), and he ticks [a key box for Eddie Howe](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19731567.will-newcastle-united-target-january-transfer-window/) in that he is proven in the English top flight. He could be a shrewd cut-price acquisition, not least given Newcastle’s awful defensive record this term.

**In other news, [this Premier League ace has emerged as a potential target for Newcastle](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/harry-winks-nufc-transfer-targets-kennedy/)**