---
title: "Newcastle United: Magpies make Mitchel Bakker enquiries"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/transfer-news-mitchel-bakker-bayer-leverkusen-5/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2022-01-30T11:40:29Z"
modified: "2022-01-30T11:40:29Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Magpies make Mitchel Bakker enquiries

**Newcastle United have reportedly now made ‘official enquiries’ over Mitchel Bakker ahead of a potential move before the January transfer window shuts.**

### The Lowdown: Defence needs work

The St. James’ Park faithful did well to bring in Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid earlier on in the window to fill the right-back position, but now they need to strengthen in the centre of defence and at left-back.

They have conceded no fewer than [43](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) goals in the Premier League so far this season, the second-most behind Norwich City, and so the defence needs to be tightened if they have any hopes of avoiding relegation down to the Championship.

Bakker is a player who is comfortable at [centre-back and left-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mitchel-bakker/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/361065), and so it is no surprise to see the North East club strongly linked with him.

### The Latest: Bakker enquiries

Craig Hope reported this week that a deal looks ‘[unlikely](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/transfer-news-mitchel-bakker-bayer-leverkusen-4/)‘, but according to [De Telegraaf](https://telegraaf.nl/) (via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-informed-newcastle-interest-official-enquiries-made-agreed-deal-will-merit-consideration/)), the Tyneside outfit have now made ‘official enquiries’ with regards to a potential move for Bakker, and he has ‘been informed’ of their interest.

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Bayer Leverkusen are apparently asking for a price of €12m (£10m) to let him go, lower than the [£16m](https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1486383445899190278) tag first reported by Hope, and if a deal is agreed, this report claims the player would be ‘willing’ to discuss terms with Eddie Howe and the Magpies.

### The Verdict: Bargain

If the new owners can get Bakker in for just £10m, then it would certainly be a bargain.

He is playing at a high level in the Bundesliga, having also played for established European clubs in [PSG and Ajax](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mitchel-bakker/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/361065), and at 21 years of age, he still has so much potential left to fulfil.

\[freshpress-poll id=”386122″\]

Described as someone 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, Bakker has everything needed already for a modern day full-back, and the fact that he can play at centre-half too makes the deal a no-brainer for the Toon, who are in desperate need of both.

[***In other news, find out what big transfer twist involving two NUFC targets has emerged here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/transfer-news-carlos-lingard-man-utd/)