Newcastle have scouted Lecce’s Tiago Gabriel | OneFootball

Newcastle United have centre-back Tiago Gabriel on their radar, according to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope.

They have scouted the 6ft 5in defender who has taken Serie A by storm this season. He has helped keep six clean sheets in 20 league appearances.

His massive frame also makes him a threat in the opposition box, where he is consistently on the end of set-pieces.

Gabriel is also surprisingly quick across the ground. He is a ‘dogged‘ defender and a fantastic talent.

While his passing and carrying need improvement, playing for a low-possession side such as Lecce does not allow him to show that side of his game.

Gabriel looks like the ideal profile to slot into Newcastle’s defensive pecking order without disrupting the balance manager Eddie Howe is trying to build.

With Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman pencilled in as long-term starters, the Magpies need a reliable option just behind them.

Gabriel fits that brief perfectly. Jamaal Lascelles is expected to depart this summer, and his exit will leave a void in terms of depth, leadership and presence.

Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have been excellent servants, but both are ageing and should not be blocking the pathway for a young defender with clear developmental upside.

Gabriel needs opportunities to iron out the rough edges of his game, and Newcastle could provide the perfect environment.

He could evolve from a capable understudy into a genuine long-term asset for the club.