Newcastle scouted both Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Remy Cabella of Montpellier over the last few years, and even though their Chairman Louis Montpellier seems to be a fully paid up member of the “I hate Newcastle United” fan club, Newcastle may become interested in another one of their players – Benjamin Stambouli – who has only just turned 24 and his main playing position is defensive midfield, although he can also play at center-back and in midfield.
Benjamin Stambouli – Montpellier midfielder
The latest news from France is that Newcastle, Everton and Swansea are the three clubs reportedly interested in the player, who has just one year left on his contract at Montpellier.
Swansea bid £2.4M for the player but that was turned down, and Montpellier want a lot more for their midfielder – in fact they want £12M for him – which seems a little ridiculous for a French U21 player with just one year left on his contract.
Manager Rolland Courbis wants Stambouli to stay at the club, and he had this to say today:
¨I see Stambouli as a €15M (£12M) player¨
“At a certain time the Stambouli case will upset Chairman Louis Nicollin and he could refuse to sell him. He had an agreement to leave, but the season has resumed now.”
“He will play against Metz and then we will see.” “I see Stambouli as a €15M (£12M) player. I’m not trying to advertise Stambouli to sell him, I’d like to keep him.”
If Newcastle’s strategy in the transfer market is to get good deals at the lowest prices possible, then Montpellier’s strategy is to talk up their players and try to get top prices for them.
You cannot blame them for that, and they recently did that with Remy Cabella, but Newcastle seem to have paid only around £8M for the top winger.
We are not sure if Newcastle rate Stambouli, but with only one year left on his contract, Newcastle could try to get him at a much reduced price in January or as a free agent next summer.
That’s if Swansea don’t snap him up before that, and they are still keen on buying the player this summer.
If Cheick Tiote does leave us this summer (and we hope that doesn’t happen), then maybe Stambouli would be a real target.
Benjamin joined Montpellier as a 14 year-old, and made his first team debut back in 2010, and since then he has played 128 games in all competitions with 4 goals and 5 assists for Montpellier.
What do you think?
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4 comments so far
scout
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:18 PM
Comment #1Never seen the lad play really
Toon Tang
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:24 PM
Comment #2Stambouli runs the circus on Pinocchio…
Sazzer
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:25 PM
Comment #3Cabouli Stambella
http://headbandsandheartbreak.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/certains-joueurs-comme-ici-remy-cabella-et-benjamin-stambouli-n-ont-d-ailleurs-pas-resister-sous-le-coup-de-l-emotion-a-se-devetir-pour-etre-plus-proches-de-leurs-fans_60051_w460.jpg?w=490
Crawfordladd17
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:33 PM
Comment #4Apparently he is decent, but I reckon about £3.5m-£4m would be fair considering Cabella was only £7.5m and this player is not as highly rated and has one year left on his contract