OPINION
Newcastle United can find a cut price solution to their defensive woes with a January move for Sunderland full-back Bryan Oviedo in a deal that could devastate their bitter rivals.
The Magpies desperately need to bring in a left-back as cover for Paul Dummett, and the Costa Rican international would be an ideal candidate.
At 28 he still has a lot to offer at the top level, but after successive relegations, finds himself in the doldrums of League One with the Black Cats.
He has been a standout performer for the Wearside club so far this season, who would be sad to see him leave, but would presumably be available for a decent price should the right offer come along.
The former Everton man’s wages are too high for a third tier club to sustain, and that means that the Mackems will be looking to offload Oviedo in January, as the Chronicle reports, even if they would rather not
A move to Newcastle makes perfect sense. The Magpies would be getting a player who can still operate at a Premier League level for a fraction of his market value, and Oviedo, who is already based in the north east, would get a second shot at the big time.