Dan Burn: Newcastle told to seal ‘brilliant’ defender deal after bid update today – pundit
Noel Whelan has urged Newcastle United to push for a deal to sign Brighton defender Dan Burn before Monday’s deadline.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 29-year-old is better suited for the Magpies’ predicament than an overseas player.
As reported by the Athletic on Saturday (29 January), Brighton have rejected a second bid of £10million plus add-ons for Burn.
The Magpies’ interest in the 29-year-old comes after failed pursuits for Lille’s Sven Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos.
Whelan suggested Newcastle should go all out for Burn between now and the end of the window.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “To get a deal done with somebody in England, somebody who knows the Premier League, is going to be a lot swifter than trying to get somebody abroad.
“He has been very consistent for Brighton. I think he is a very underrated centre-half in the Premier League. He’s got good pace, a good size to him, good on the ball as well.
“This could be the signing that probably makes more sense than Carlos right now, in terms of what they’re needing. They can get him at a cheaper price.
“He’s got vast experience in the Premier League, brilliant in the air from set-pieces – both defending and offensive set-pieces.
“They need something at the back there because it’s clearly not been working for a couple of seasons now. We’ve seen the mistakes that have been there all season as well.
“Maybe him coming in can be that leader and that experience that you need at the back to help the other centre-halves.”
Burn, who stands at 6ft 7in [Transfermarkt], has been a mainstay for Brighton this season.
He has a total of 83 Premier League games under his belt.
In other news, Newcastle United tipped to sign their own Jordan Henderson after £42million update.