Championship big dogs Norwich and Newcastle are reported to be tracking Swedish defender Filip Helander, according to Italian sources at GazzaMercato.
Currently away with his national team at the Olympics, they report that the Verona defender is using the Rio games as a chance to showcase his talents as he’s “pushing for an opportunity in the Championship”.
Helander is a young centre back with European pedigree, having amassed nearly 100 appearances at the age of 23 in his native Sweden with champions Malmo, and most recently in Serie A with Verona.
His success has been mixed, winning the league and qualify for the Champions League with Malmo, earning himself a move to Italy where he was relegated in his first season with the north-Italian club. Back in his homeland he was nominated for the Allsvenskan defender of the year and the Swedish defender of the year.
Helander is seen as an old-fashioned centre back, being a huge physical presence at 6ft 4 and strong in the air. But he also has a modern style when on the ball, similar to Norwich’s most recent defensive signing, Timm Klose.
Both Alex Neil and Rafa Benitez are believed to be in the market for defensive reinforcements as they look to make an instant return to the top flight, after the Toon’s former captain Fabricio Coloccini departed for his native Argentina and Norwich also likely to see defenders leave the club.
