"?Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is right to want to target another defender as transfer speculation mounted this weekend.
The Sun has reported that Benitez wants to go back to his old enemy Everton for their young left-back Brendan Galloway, whom the Magpies want to bring in on loan for the rest of the Championship campaign.
United only have two out-and-out players who can operate in that position in the squad - Paul Dummett and Massadio Haïdara - who each have their own injury concerns, and it is certainly an area that needs to be improved.
Dummett has been Benitez's first choice since he took over the reign at St. James' Park after Steve McClaren was fired, but lacks the ability to go forward and can be inconsistent at times.
Haidara is also coming back from injury and hasn't played a single minute of football this season, which makes it likely that his road to recovery will be longer than first anticipated.
The French defender has seen his Newcastle career littered with unfortunate spells on the sidelines and Benitez will not want to aggravate his fragile body any more than is necessary - which is why a new left-back is needed.
Galloway would be a good option to use in that role - and he is highly-rated among the hierarchy at Goodison Park. The 20-year-old Zimbabwe born defender started 12 games last campaign, but will be behind Leighton Bains and Bryan Oveido in the Toffies' pecking order this season.
As far as attacking intent goes, the youngster is more accomplished than Dummett, but still not the finished article in going down that flank. According to the statistics website "?Squawka, he has created more chances per game that the Newcastle incumbent at 0.27 compared to 0.17.
Galloway has also had more successful take-ons per match than the Welsh international has, with 0.47 compared to a paltry 0.30 and completes more passes as well as, making less errors in defence.
Dummett is a good player and will probably do well in the Championship, but the Magpies need more than that if they are going to win the league - and they definitely need to bring in an option that carries an attacking threat as well as offering defensive solidity.