As Newcastle continue to battle for a place in next season's Champions League, rumours are beginning to surface as to which players Alan Pardew could recruit should his team qualify for Europe's biggest club competition.
One player whose name has re-surfaced as a potential target for the Magpies is Ajax Captain Jan Vertonghen, the Belgian centre-back is widely anticipated to leave the Dutch giants in the summer, with Arsenal and Tottenham also mentioned as possible contenders for his signature.
Pardew was pictured at the Amsterdam Arena on Sunday as Vertonghen and his team mates romped to a comfortable 3-1 win over Eredivisie basement dwellers De Graafschap.
The Newcastle boss will certainly have been impressed by Vertonghen's performance as he showcased his skills as a ball playing centre half, setting up Derk Boerrigter for the Champions' third goal.
Competition for Vertonghen's services will be stiff, and he will command a fee of at least £10m, but after watching the 24-year-old on a visit to Amsterdam earlier in the season, I am of the opinion that an investment in Vertonghen would be an extremely wise one on Newcastle's part.
Pardew has often spoken of his desire to ensure that Newcastle control more games and dominate possession, and this is certainly something that they have been able to achieve in their recent unbeaten run. However, in order to do this on a European stage they would certainly require more players of a higher calibre who are comfortable with the ball at their feet.
Vertonghen certainly fits the bill, much like current Newcastle Captain Fabricio Coloccini he is a defender who is not afraid to attack and is often at the centre of Ajax's forays into the opposition half. Unlike Coloccini however, the Belgian is relatively prolific in front of goal, he has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, an impressive tally for a central defender.
Indeed, Vertonghen is a rare breed of defender who excels in both defence and attack, comfortable in the air and in possession, the Germinal Beerschot academy product reads the game excellently and his intelligence and assuredness at the back has seen him rise remarkably quickly through the ranks at one of European football's most famous clubs.
Newcastle's strikers have been on top form throughout the current campaign, but Vertonghen's goal scoring prowess would certainly be of use to the Magpies as they look set to compete on four fronts next season.
The Geordies have been linked with a host of other names in recent weeks, including FC Twente's Brazilian centre back Douglas, Montpellier's Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and PSV Eindhoven full back Erik Pieters.
Yanga-Mbiwa is another that likely need an assurance of Champions League football to make the move to the North-East with Montpellier sitting two points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in the race for the Ligue 1 title.
A move for Pieters on the other hand would not be a surprise, the Dutch international was repeatedly linked with a switch to St James' Park last summer, and has a good relationship with Newcastle Goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Eindhoven man can operate on the left side of the defence or in the middle and his versatility would certainly give Pardew more options in defence, an area in which Newcastle have become extremely stretched over the last few weeks.
It is negotiations with Douglas that appear to be at the most advanced stage however, with rumours circulating that Newcastle have already agreed a deal to bring the player to the club.
The Brazilian is not a ball playing centre half like Vertonghen, but his presence could definitely help sure up the Newcastle back line. Standing at 6ft 4in, Douglas is a dominant physical presence that would not be daunted by the challenge of facing up to some of the Premier League's more intimidating strikers. His height would also be useful in helping the Magpies deal with set pieces, an area of the game that they struggled with this season.
Newcastle will certainly require a number of reinforcements for any potential European challenge, further up the field the Pardew's side have been linked with a move for midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and have reportedly already agreed to sign Reims' winger Romain Amalfitano.
However, if the Geordies are destined to play in the Champions League, then their first port of call should be to Amsterdam to secure the capture of Vertonghen, a player who could make a huge impact for the club at both ends of the pitch.
It is negotiations with Douglas that appear to be at the most advanced stage however, with rumours circulating that Newcastle have already agreed a deal to bring the player to the club.
The Brazilian is not a ball playing centre half like Vertonghen, but his presence could definitely help sure up the Newcastle back line. Standing at 6ft 4in, Douglas is a dominant physical presence that would not be daunted by the challenge of facing up to some of the Premier League's more intimidating strikers. His height would also be useful in helping the Magpies deal with set pieces, an area of the game that they struggled with this season.
Newcastle will certainly require a number of reinforcements for any potential European challenge, further up the field the Pardew's side have been linked with a move for midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and have reportedly already agreed to sign Reims' winger Romain Amalfitano.
However, if the Geordies are destined to play in the Champions League, then their first port of call should be to Amsterdam to secure the capture of Vertonghen, a player who could make a huge impact for the club at both ends of the pitch.
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