Report: Newcastle and West Ham eye 25-year-old Croatian, shining alongside Payet

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The Telegraph claim Newcastle have thrown their hat into the ring to sign Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car, with West Ham still keen. The Croatia star is about to enter the last 18 months of his current deal.

Caleta-Car, 25, has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League over the last few windows. Already a regular for Croatia, the ex-Salzburg defender has been considered one of the best centre-backs in Ligue 1 football.

However, this season, Caleta-Car has dropped down the pecking order under Jorge Sampaoli. Arsenal’s William Saliba is currently keeping Caleta-Car on the bench, with Saliba on loan at Marseille until the end of the season.

Given his contract is about to enter the last year and a half, it will be interesting to see what fee Marseille are willing to accept. In November, TMW reported that Marseille valued him at £15million.

Newcastle and West Ham eye Caleta-Car: £15million a risk worth taking

An old-fashioned type of centre-back, Caleta-Car is renowned for his strength, his aggression and his aerial ability. But he also boasts modern traits too – his ability on the ball, speed and even his versatility.

For his country, he has been known to play either right-back or left-back. So, for £15million – especially given he is only 25 and with more than 250 club appearances under his belt already – Caleta-Car is worth the risk.