Newcastle United are reportedly interested in a move for Stuttgart left-back Borna Sosa ahead of the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Left-back issues

Despite the Magpies' great start to the Premier League season - they head into Christmas in third place in the table - they have had a small issue at left-back.

2022 signing Matt Targett has seven minutes of top-flight football so far this season.

Howe has opted to play Dan Burn, a more natural central defender, at left-back in recent matches, so this could be an area of the pitch that PIF look to address in January.

The Latest: Sosa interest

As per German news outlet Bild, Newcastle are one of three clubs who are thought to be interested in signing Sosa in January, alongside Serie A duo Inter Milan and Atalanta.

The Croatian has recently changed agency in order to potentially help force through a move, and he now shares the same agent as seven Magpies players.

However, Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat is hoping that Sosa stays put, having been full of praise for the 6 foot 2 colossus, calling him an 'absolute quality' player.

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The Verdict: Get it done

With Howe chopping and changing at left-back, Sosa is a player who could possibly make the position his own on Tyneside over the next few years.

Hailed as a 'crossing machine' by journalist Ronan Murphy, the 24-year-old's ability in that regard has been likened to Premier League and England legend David Beckham by Mislintat.

That is evidenced by his return of eight assists in just 13 games already this term, including three in one match in the DFB-Pokal Cup in Germany (Transfermarkt).

Capped eight times by the Croatia national team, Sosa is set to star for the 2018 runners-up at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and he will certainly be one to watch for the eagle-eyed Toon Army.