Newcastle United are monitoring Ajax centre-back Aaron Bouwman, who is recovering from a horror injury suffered last month. The 19-year-old, who stands at 6ft 6in, has been put to the Magpies by intermediaries as they look to strengthen their defensive options.
Bouwman shares the same agency as Matthias Jaissle and fits the bill in terms of younger stars joining the club's charge forward. With Fabian Schar now 34, Newcastle scouts are actively looking for a right-sided centre-back. Bouwman had impressed in early Europa League qualifying ties and early Dutch top-flight games before his setback.
Injury and recovery
Bouwman's season was disrupted last month when he suffered a horror moment in the 3-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven at the Johan Cruyff Arena. A challenge from Ruben van Bommel left the defender hospitalised and ruled him out for the month of September.
An Ajax statement at the time said: “Aaron Bouwman will not be in action again during the month of September. Examinations showed that Bouwman suffered several injuries, including bruising to his sternum and a bruised lung.”
The defender has a valuation of around £6.7m and is due back in October having recovered from his lung problems. Newcastle scouts will be back on alert to check his progress, with Chelsea also believed to be keen on the teenager.
Recruitment plans
Bouwman is on a list of young stars Newcastle are monitoring ahead of the next two windows as sporting director Ross Wilson looks to implement the next stage of his recruitment process. Wilson personally checked out Sean Steur last season, and he led a scouting summit on Tyneside before the international break, as reported by Chronicle Live.
Potential targets for January and the 2027 summer window were discussed as Newcastle look to build on a progressive window last time around. With ex-head of recruitment Steve Nickson now with Wrexham and his assistant Andy Howe no longer with Newcastle, Wilson will be able to put his own stamp on transfers in the windows ahead.
Schar signed a one-year contract last summer but will be 35 in December, and this could be his final hurrah for the club. It remains to be seen whether Dan Burn triggers a two-year option on his current deal, which is set to expire at the end of this season. Burn has been back in light training in the build-up to the first game back after the international window as Newcastle prepare to take on Coventry City next Monday.
