𝗗𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡! 🏰 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 £𝟭𝟳𝗺 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅-𝗔𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆-𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻! 🛡️⚽
By 247sportcity | Tuesday, January 20, 2026
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE – Newcastle United have officially entered the market for a defensive savior. With a brutal injury crisis leaving manager Eddie Howe with just four fit senior defenders, the Magpies have reportedly lodged an enquiry for Genoa’s breakout star Brooke Norton-Cuffy.
The 22-year-old former Arsenal academy product has become one of the most coveted full-backs in Europe following a stellar campaign in Serie A. However, Newcastle aren’t alone in their pursuit; Premier League rivals Everton and West Ham United have also made contact with the Italian club, who are reportedly prepared to sell for a fee in the region of €20 million (£17.4 million).1
The Newcastle Crisis: A Backline on Fumes
The urgency behind Newcastle’s move cannot be overstated. Following a grueling winter schedule, the Magpies’ defensive department has effectively collapsed. The club’s latest medical report reads like a disaster film:
- Fabian Schär: Underwent ankle surgery last Thursday; out until April at the earliest.2
- Tino Livramento: Sidelined with a hamstring injury until March.
- Emil Krafth & Jamaal Lascelles: No definitive return dates; neither has featured since November.
- Dan Burn: Improving, but still at least a week away from returning to the grass.
This leaves Howe with a “survival quartet” of Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, and Lewis Hall as his only senior options for the upcoming Champions League showdown with PSV Eindhoven and a high-stakes Premier League clash against Aston Villa.3
Who is Brooke Norton-Cuffy?
For many Premier League fans, Norton-Cuffy is the “one who got away” from North London. After successful loan spells at Lincoln City, Rotherham, Coventry, and Millwall, the physical right-back joined Genoa in the summer of 2024 for just £3.5 million.4
In Italy, he has undergone a tactical metamorphosis. Starting 19 of Genoa’s 21 Serie A matches this season, he has developed a reputation as a powerful, direct runner who can dominate the entire right flank. His recovery pace and crossing ability have made him a mainstay in the England U21 setup, and many see him as the natural long-term successor to the aging Kieran Trippier at St James’ Park.
[Table: Defensive Depth – Newcastle’s Available vs. Sidelined]
| Status | Players Available | Players Sidelined | Expected Return |
| Fit & Ready | Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall | N/A | Immediate |
| Short-Term | N/A | Dan Burn | Late January |
| Mid-Term | N/A | Tino Livramento | March 2026 |
| Long-Term | N/A | Fabian Schär | April 2026 |
| Unknown | N/A | Lascelles, Krafth | Indefinite |
The “Next Saliba” Strategy
Interestingly, Newcastle’s pursuit of Norton-Cuffy mirrors a broader trend among Premier League giants looking to poach talent from under the noses of the traditional “Big Six.” While Newcastle focus on Norton-Cuffy, reports suggest Arsenal are themselves looking to Real Madrid’s Víctor Valdepeñas as the “next William Saliba.”
For Newcastle, Norton-Cuffy represents the same kind of “value for money” signing. At £17.4 million, he fits perfectly into the club’s strict PSR (Profit and Sustainability) guidelines while providing immediate cover for the injured Livramento.
Eddie Howe’s “Watching Brief”
Speaking on Friday, Eddie Howe remained coy about the club’s January activity, describing the current state as a “holding pattern.” However, the tone shifted when discussing the physical toll on his remaining players.
“We have to be ready to act,” Howe admitted. “We’re trying to make the right decisions collectively. We have to consider value for money and the right players being available. Picking up more injuries in these positions is something we have to be ready to deal with.”
The Competition: Everton and West Ham
Newcastle face a significant fight for Norton-Cuffy’s signature. Everton, led by David Moyes, are reportedly viewing the defender as a vital replacement for the potentially departing Nathan Patterson. Meanwhile, West Ham are looking to lower the average age of their backline and see Norton-Cuffy as a cut-price alternative to more expensive domestic targets.
Genoa, sitting in the mid-table of Serie A, are not under immense pressure to sell, but the prospect of a 500% profit in just 18 months is expected to be too tempting for the Italian side to turn down before the February 2nd deadline.
Final Verdict: A Season-Defining Move?
If Newcastle fail to secure defensive reinforcements this month, they risk a total collapse of their European and domestic ambitions. Brooke Norton-Cuffy offers a rare combination of Premier League readiness and high-ceiling potential. For a fee of £17.4 million, he might not just be a “stop-gap”—he could be the cornerstone of Eddie Howe’s defense for years to come