The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, branded the 28-year-old a “fantastic defender”.

A Newcastle source has told Football Insider that the club have put Coady on their January shortlist as they look to strengthen their back line.

It will take a bid of around £30million to prise away the Wolves star, who is under contract until 2025.

Coady has played every minute for the Midlands club in the Premier League this season.

The centre-half joined Wolves from Huddersfield in 2015 and has gone on to make 286 appearances in the famous Old Gold.

Whelan insisted centre-back is “the first place” Newcastle should look as they bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

“He’s a brilliant defender and consistency is what you will get from him,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“Newcastle have struggled defensively for a number of
years now, so getting a defender like him into the spine of that side will be
massive.

“That’s the first place I’d be looking.

“You have Wilson, Saint-Maximin and Almiron in the attack,
so you have enough there but the frailties are at the back and at centre-half,
for me.

“Connor Coady is a player you would be more than happy with
at your football club.

“He’s got the leadership qualities, he’s an England international now and he is a very consistent performer for Wolves.”

Coady has earned seven England caps since making his debut for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in September 2020.

Newcastle have conceded the third-most goals in the Premier League this term.

This article was originally posted here