Newcastle United will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old Argentine international Leonardo Balerdi from Ligue 1 club Marseille in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Graeme Bailey on TBR Football, Leonardo Balerdi is the subject of interest from Newcastle United. The Magpies are keen on reinforcing their defensive unit by signing a centre-back in the summer transfer window. So, the 26-year-old Marseille captain has emerged as a target for the Tyneside outfit.

Who is Leonardo Balerdi?

Leonardo Balerdi has come leaps and bounds since joining Marseille from Borussia Dortmund. A native of Villa Mercedes, the South American defender spend his formative years in Argentina, starting his youth career at Sportivo Pueyrredon before graduating from the youth division at Boca Juniors.

Balerdi’s first adventure in Europe was with Borussia Dortmund, with the Bundesliga club signing him from Boca Juniors in July 2019. However, the 26-year-old defender’s spell with the Black and Yellows was not a success, and he landed on his feet after joining Marseille in July 2020, initially completing a loan deal before sealing a permanent move 12 months later.

The Argentine international has turned out over 150 times thus far for Marseille while chipping in with five goals and two assists. In addition, Balerdi has embraced more responsibility at the Ligue 1 club in the last few years, succeeding Dimitri Payet as the captain. Meanwhile, his progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs, including Newcastle United.

Premier League adventure beckons?

Newcastle United’s interest in Leonardo Balerdi is understandable. The Magpies are scouring the market for a centre-back this summer amid the advancing years of Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, and Jamaal Lascelles, with each defender on the wrong side of 30. In addition, Sven Botman has struggled with fitness issues in the last 12 months.

So, several candidates, including Giorgio Scalvini, have emerged on Newcastle United’s radar, with Balerdi also a viable target. The Magpies have enjoyed success doing business with Ligue 1 club, with Bruno Guimaraes being a transformational signing for the Tyneside outfit.

Meanwhile, Balerdi will also bring leadership ability with him, having been Marseille’s captain in the last two years. So, it will be interesting to see if the 26-year-old Argentine international becomes the top centre-back target for Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.