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Steve McClaren is planning an overhaul of his Newcastle defence with moves for Monaco ace Aymen Abdennour and Joel Matip of Schalke, write Steve Bates and Alan Oliver in the Sunday People.

The centre-half position is a key area for McClaren as Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson both struggled last season.

Tunisia star Abdennour is rated at £20million, while Matip is around £10m.

McClaren will have to move quickly for Abdennour who is also being tracked by Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Inter Milan. The highly-rated 25-year-old was on the Toon’s radar before McClaren was put in charge after being watched by head talent-spotter Graham Carr several times last season.

Monaco could be forced in to selling Abdennour as they face Financial Fair Play penalties from UEFA.

And the player has admitted he is open to a move away from the south of France.

He said: “It’s not up to me to decide whether I stay or not, it’s up to the president. I’m already at a big club but I am ready for anything. If a club that you can’t turn down comes along, I trust my president and my sporting director.

“They know me, I won’t put pressure on them. We respect each other, we work together like a family.”

A move for Matip could be easier for the North East club with the player only having one year remaining on his deal with Germany’s Schalke.