Florian Lejeune is largely regarded as Newcastle United's best all-round defender but Steve Bruce appears unconvinced over his fitness, and former defender Steve Howey believes that the Magpies could cash in on the Frenchman.

Lejeune has been unlucky with injuries during his time on Tyneside having suffered an ACL at the beginning of the 2018/19 season before suffering yet another serious knee injury at the end of the same campaign, but former manager Rafa Benitez always knew he was an important player for the Magpies.

The Frenchman endeared himself to the Newcastle United fans beyond his top passing ability when he netted twice in second-half added time at Goodison Park, which saw the Magpies earn an unimaginable 2-2 draw during the 2019/20 campaign, but the club could be willing to sell him this summer to generate funds.

Bruce will know that he has to move on some fringe players this summer to squeeze every last drop out of his limited transfer budget this summer if he wants to avoid yet another relegation battle, and Lejeune could be moved on this summer to do so according to Howey, who spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

"I thought he was a decent player but ultimately sometimes your body just can't cope after all those injuries so the club will be thinking they can possibly offload him and try to increase the budget."

Last season Bruce was asked if he was considering bringing the 30-year-old back to Tyneside halfway through his loan spell when the club were hit with a defensive injury crisis which saw Isaac Hayden having to play as a centre back, but Bruce confirmed that it would not benefit him coming back.

During Newcastle's upturn in form last season, Bruce opted for three centre backs with one of them being Paul Dummett, so if the manager sees the academy graduate as another option at centre back then Lejeune will be even further down the pecking order.