Torino ace on the radar in full-back hunt

NEWCASTLE United boss Rafa Benitez will make signing a new right-back one of his main priorities this summer.

The Magpies’ chief wants to bring in serious competition to that particular area and is looking to add a quality challenger to the ranks with DeAndre Yedlin walking straight into the Toon starting lineup.

With defensive flop Jesus Gamez leaving the club after two poor years on Tyneside for the ex-Malaga and Atletico Madrid man, Benitez is now short-listing a range of options in that position.

Torino’s 30-year-old defender Lorenzo De Silvestri was linked with United over the weekend and it is no secret Benitez’s scouting team spent plenty of time watching Serie A games in the closing stages of the season.

De Silvestri has two years left of his current deal with the Italain Club.

While manager Walter Mazzarri does not want to sell him, the lure of the Premier League for a player who has spent his whole career in Italy could be too tempting.

Benitez has not left the UK for a summer break and has been working on transfers since the season ended - despite his own contract situation remaining unresolved.

Newcastle are hoping to agree a £4million deal for Martin Dubravka soon, while Benitez also wants a winger, a central midfielder and a proven centre-forward in this summer’s window.

The Spaniard has already stated United have no time to lose in the coming weeks. He said: “It is clear what we need.

“We have two players on loan who are leaving and two players who have finished their contract too.

“You need to sign players to be sure you have a good squad with competition.

“You need to be sure you have competition and enough levels within the squad to make sure you can approach any game thinking you can win.

“It cannot be the case that if you miss one or two players, the team is not the same.

“We need a squad which is capable of competing in the Premier League.”