GABRIEL IN FRAME
EVERTON are targeting Lille defender Gabriel as they make a centre-half their priority summer signing.
The Blues have scouted the 22-year-old several times in recent months as the recruitment team compile a shortlist for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
He has identified central defence as a key area to strengthen, with only three senior centre-halves in his squad and defence a weakness since he arrived at Goodison.
The 6ft 3in Brazilian has spoken about his desire to play in the Premier League. Everton would not be put off by a price tag thought to be close to £30 million.
Since a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace on Dec 21, Newcastle’s league form has collapsed, with just six points from 27, and just six goals scored. And without a stoppage-time winner against Chelsea and a pair of stoppagetime goals to draw 2-2 at Everton, it could have been far worse worse.
ahead of us.What needs to change? It is difficult to say exactly what it needs. It is just four or five games where we can get something, and our expectation of ourselves is to win these games.
“If we play to our strengths I am confident we will get points and finish strongly.
“Forty points needed? Ask me in three games when we have those points.”
Schar has urged fans not to blame the misfiring strikeforce for the team’s
Dec 26 Man Utd 4 Newcastle 1 Dec 28 Newcastle 1 Everton 2 Jan 1 Newcastle 0 Leicester 3 Jan 11 Wolves 1 Newcastle 1 Jan 18 Newcastle 1 Chelsea 0 Jan 21 Everton 2 Newcastle 2 Feb 1 Newcastle 0 Norwich 0 Feb 16 Arsenal 4 Newcastle 0 Feb 22 C Palace 1 Newcastle 0 P W D L 6 A
Fproblems. He said: “It is hard. People are blaming our strikers but they forget the work they do for our team to defend.
“They are hard-working players doing a lot of difficult stuff and you can’t forget that.
“The whole team have to create more and get more chances then they’ll score. It is not just strikers, it is the whole team who need to be better.”
Schar has been linked with a transfer to Milan in the past but said: “I am thankful to play for Newcastle and with my team-mates.”