There’s news in France that Newcastle United are interested in Benfica’s attacking midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.
Nicolas Gaitan – 26 year-old Benfica attacking midfielder
The news is that we have been watching the 26 year-old Argentine for a while, but the bad news is that money bags French club Monaco are also interested in the Argentine International.
Newcastle keep tabs on all the good players whose contracts are running out, as we try to pick up players on the cheap and get good deals, and Gaitan’s contract runs out next summer at Benfica, and he will then become a free agent.
Benfica have been trying to nail their player down to a new contract for some time – he is said to be valued at £15M on the open market – but the negotiations have not been going well and are reported to have hit a snag.
Like any pending free agent, there could be offers for the Argentine in January, and Benfica could cash in on their star at that time for a cut price fee, rather than lose him for nothing in the summer, so look for Newcastle to at least attempt to persuade the 26 year-old to come to Tyneside in January.
Gaitan joined the Portuguese champions in 2010 from local club Boca Juniors for around £6.5M, and he has scored 27 goals in 187 total appearances for the club.
While playing in Argentina for his home town club, whom he joined when he was just 13, he scored 13 goals in 79 appearances since making his debut in June 2008 in a 3–1 win over Arsenal de Sarandí.
He has 8 caps and two goals for Argentina.
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3 comments so far
scitoon
Oct 23, 2014 at 8:23 AM
Comment #1Of all the rumours that you post Ed, this has to be the most far-fetched story i have read here. Brightened up my morning though!
archaeomag
Oct 23, 2014 at 9:55 AM
Comment #226 years old and probably approaching peak value, unlikely.
Hobs
Oct 23, 2014 at 7:43 PM
Comment #3Bought him for £2mill on my FM save, and as the only reinforcement of the first season. He played like a god and I won the league at the first attempt. Mike Ashley, take note!