Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is keen to include Fabian Schar as part of his grand plan at St James' Park.
The experienced Switzerland international has come in from the cold since Howe took over and the expiry of his current deal is now a talking point again within the fanbase.
Having signed a new extension in the summer, Schar's existing contract runs out at the end of the current campaign.
When asked whether he would be keen on extending his stay on Tyneside Howe said: "Yeah, I think Fabian has been excellent.
"I have been an admirer of Fabian from afar for a long, long time.
"I think he's a fantastic footballer.
"He fits my mould as to what I want for a centre-back.
"He can handle the ball, he's very creative.
"He has also shown his defensive resilience and mentality to not want to concede.
"Fabian has defended really well and of course that is every defender's first port of call.
"I thought together with Jamaal Lascelles he was excellent."
Schar spoke to the club's TV channel recently about his surprise omission under Steve Bruce after finding himself frozen out under the previous regime.
He said: "Sometimes I was surprised not to be in the first XI.
"That was a difficult time, this is a new chapter, and I'm really looking forward to it."
