Chris Sutton thinks that Newcastle United will need to sign an entirely new defence if they are to avoid relegation to the Championship, but the former Premier League winner has questioned whether the club will be able to get the players they need.
The Magpies currently sit 19 th in the Premier League with just one win from their opening 16 matches, three points adrift of safety.
Newcastle currently possess the worst defensive record in the entire division, having conceded 34 goals already so far this season.
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Eddie Howe has come in and had a decent impact on the squad at Newcastle, however the same issues at the back, that were present under Steve Bruce, have continued to surface.
In the five matches he has been in charge, Newcastle have shipped 10 goals, including four in the defeat at Leicester City on Sunday, and three in the draw with Brentford last month.
The Magpies have been linked to a whole host of names ahead of next month’s transfer window, with the likes of Jesse Lingard and Aaron Ramsey all reported targets.
However, speaking on 5Live’s Monday Night Club, Sutton thinks it is their defence that must be prioritised in January, but has questioned the quality of player that Newcastle will be able to bring in given their current predicament.
He said: “I think they need a whole back line. They’ve got a Championship defence and that is their biggest problem. Eddie Howe’s gone in, he’s tried to be really positive, galvanise the fans.
“Ultimately they’ve got some good attacking players but defensively they are so short. We’ve discussed this on previous Monday night’s and they’re going to have pay well over the odds.
“But, who’s going to actually want to go there, who’s top draw and any good. Maybe loans will be the way, but they’re in massive trouble.”
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