---
title: "Newcastle United: Magpies want Attila Szalai in January"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-transfer-news-szalai-leicester-fenerbahce-bologna/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United News"
published: "2022-11-23T20:30:08Z"
modified: "2022-11-23T20:30:08Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Magpies want Attila Szalai in January

**[Newcastle United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/) reportedly want to sign Fenerbahce central defender Attila Szalai in the January transfer window.**

### The Lowdown: January signings expected

The St. James’ Park outfit are [expected](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-united-dean-jones-pif-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/) to make more signings in January, as they look to kick on from their excellent start to the season.

They ended the first part of the Premier League campaign in [third](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) place, and will feel that they now have a real chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League ahead of some of the traditional ‘big six’ teams.

### The Latest: Szalai wanted

As per Turkish news outlet [Turkiye Gazetesi](https://www.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/spor/szalaiye-yakin-takip-929071), Szalai is ‘wanted’ by the North East club, as well as fellow Premier League rivals West Ham United and Leicester City.

Serie A side Bologna are also interested in a potential January move, although Szalai’s contract is not up until [2025](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/attila-szalai/profil/spieler/263380), so Fenerbahce are not under much pressure to sell.

[Newcastle news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/newcastle-news-7/)

### The Verdict: Lascelles replacement?

It was [reported](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/lascelles-transfer-news-premier-league/) earlier this month that the Tynesiders will listen to offers for Jamaal Lascelles in January, meaning that they would have to sign a replacement if he leaves.

Hailed as an ‘[exemplary](https://twitter.com/sercanhamzaolu/status/1370314978700447747)‘ player by former Fenerbahce sporting director Emre Belozoglu, Szalai is nick-named the ‘[Hungarian Van Dijk](https://twitter.com/BenBocsak/status/1536999054261080064)‘, with the Liverpool centre-back [widely regarded](https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/hes-the-best-centre-half-of-all-time-michael-owen-hails-virgil-van-dijk-after-liverpool-overcome-vil_sto8910863/story.shtml) as one of the best centre-halves of his generation.

The six-foot-four colossus ranks in the 86th percentile for touches, 84th for progressive passes received and 83rd for progressive passes out of centre-backs in Europe in the past year per [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/50ff205b/Attila-Szalai), showing that he is also comfortable with the ball at his feet, and is an all-round complete defender.

Nonetheless, Szalai is only 24 years of age as well, so the Hungary international would be an adequate long-term replacement for Lascelles, and sharing the [same agent](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rogon/beraterfirma/berater/1) as Joelinton, this could be a deal that could be pushed through for the right price.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”415486″\]