Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Liverpool battle for Sevilla defender

Newcastle United have joined Liverpool and Aston Villa in the race to sign Sevilla youngster Loic Bade, according to reports.

The centre-back has enjoyed a great start to the campaign in La Liga and consequently caught the attention of a number of Premier League sides looking to bolster their defence with a quality player with bags of potential.

A report from Fichajes revealed that “competition between these three English clubs promises an intense battle in the winter transfer market for the services of the 24-year-old defender, who could make the leap to the English league in early 2025.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

Despite numerous bids, Newcastle failed to secure Marc Guehi during the course of the summer, as Crystal Palace remained firm in their demands. This has forced the club to look elsewhere, with Bade is now a target.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are looking for a long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk, while Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, are also keen.

Each of these clubs sees Badé as an opportunity for the future, thanks to his experience in top-level competitions and his outstanding participation with the French national team at the Olympic Games, where they won the silver medal.

Sevilla are reportedly willing to listen to offers, even though Badé’s release clause is €60 million.

The ‘next Varane’

Bade has been touted as the ‘next Raphael Varane’ as he boasts a similar stature and has similar attributes to the Real Madrid centre-back.

Former Rennes president Florian Maurice said of his former player: “He has character and temperament. He’s a really nice guy. I am convinced of his qualities. They are very interesting, both physically and technically.

“We have a team that plays football and we want players who can carry the balls out from defence. He has the characteristics coach Bruno Genesio asks for. But he remains a defender above all, that is to say that he wins duels.

“He still has things to work on, and this is normal compared to his young age, but he has already acquired a lot.”