Newcastle United tracking Kenyan defender

Newcastle United could make a surprise move for Joseph Okumu in the summer transfer window, after deploying a scout to monitor the progress of the Kenyan international defender over the last three months. Okumu currently plys his trade for Elfsborg in the Swedish Allsvenskan league.

Okumu has emerged from his home country as a reliable defender, cable of playing anywhere in defence but primarily as a right-sided defender or centrally. At 6 foot 4, Okumu is considered an emerging talent from Africa and has already been scouted by several other European sides.

Okumu has played previously for several sides in his home country before making the move to Real Monarchs, whom eventually transferred the defender to Elfsborg for a fee of around 200,000 euros.

It is understood that Newcastle are ready to spend up to £500,000 to secure the signature of Okumu and will beat the likes of Lille, Wolfsburg and Feyenoord to the signing of the Kenyan international. Okumu currently has nine caps to his name and has appeared for his country's under-21 and under-23 sides on a regular basis.