Tutto Mercato have been reporting this week that Newcastle are preparing to make a move for 24 year-old Palermo left-back Achraf Lazaar.
We were supposed to sign Everton left-back Brendan Galloway a couple of weeks ago on loan, but he has surprisingly opted to go to West Brom, so Newcastle still need to bring in a left back.
We signed a right back yesterday in 23 year-old American DeAndre Yedlin, who was on loan at Sunderland last season.
24 year-old Palermo left-back Achraf Lazaar
The report in Italy is that Newcastle are in for Achraf Lazaar, who is expected to leave Palermo this summer with just one year left on his contract, so maybe Newcastle can get a good deal for the 16 times capped Moroccan International.
West Ham have been interested in the player for a while now, although the report is that Rafa is hoping to beat them to the Casablanca-born defender.
As with any player this summer Newcastle will need to move quickly before Premier League clubs become interested in him and it will again we difficult to persuade the player join us in the Championship.
Lazaar joined Palermo in January, 2014 from Varese, where he played 46 games with one goal and had one assist; he has played 76 games for Palermo with 3 goals and 6 assists in the last two and a half years.
He made his International in a friendly match for Morocco against Mozambique in May 2014 that ended up in a 4-0 win.
Newcastle need reinforcements at left back, with both Paul Dummett and Sadio Haidara prone to injury, although Jesus Gamez had a good game in that position on Tuesday night against Cheltenham on his debut.
He was especially good in the second half and surely the 31 year-old Spanish U-23 International can do a job for us somewhere along the back line this season?
But Rafa is keen to have competition all over the pitch this season at Newcastle and therefore another left back will be brought in before the end of the month.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
11 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Aug 25, 2016 at 9:39 AM
Comment #1SIGN HIM UP!!
Not even sure if hes good or not but just desperate for any left back to come in!!
sweendog
Aug 25, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #2http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2016/08/25/newcastle-united-ready-to-place-4-2-million-bid-for-27-year-old-attacker/
also hope the rumours about MBemba to Arsenal are not true, I think he could go on to be a big player for us
SPRINGY
Aug 25, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Comment #3hope these mbemba stories are just that,stories…its to late to be selling any of our needed players now, so tell arsenal to shove it up there hoops,if they come in for him now.
SPRINGY
Aug 25, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #4nutmeg from a few threads back
that video must of been put on by a bitter ex or something coz bloody hell….,thats a canny stitch up!lol
expatmag
Aug 25, 2016 at 9:57 AM
Comment #5On Mbemba…..tell Wenger 35 million quid plus Kosceliny and he is yours.
That should see Wenger disappear back up hus own sewer pipe
beermonkey
Aug 25, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Comment #6thought mbemba did well in his first season
the worrying thing is nothing has been said about him really not sure whether this is good or bad
be a mistake to let him go but then like the others if he wants out were best of getting rid
janmatt to Watford I would have thrown in sissoko as well I can think of no finer place for sissoko to go than watford
SPRINGY
Aug 25, 2016 at 10:03 AM
Comment #7expat
not a fan of wengers to be honest…cant knock what he’s done with arsenal but his arrogance irritates me,theres no way we should let mbemba go now,they’ve had all summer to come in and that would of gave us the chance to strengthen,no matter how much money,this would only weaken us…tell wenger to jog on in a lot less nicer terms then that!lol
anthc
Aug 25, 2016 at 10:09 AM
Comment #8Mbemba is still our best footballing cb’s so would be gutted if they came in for him. Let’s be honest any player would jump at the chance to join arsenal from us (not sure about palace and watford though!).
Is this lb is quick and can defend sign him up, that would be two fast fullbacks bombing down the wing.
I can’t believe elliot has been given a long term deals either. Credit where it’s due he did well in the games before his injury but before that he let in some howlers. His distribution is better than krul but I would take krul over elliot any day.
I would also agree about the majority of the squad not being good enough for the pl. But on paper we’ve signed all these players for the gini and townsend money almost, whilst alot of the big earners are also off the books.
Should we go up I think alot of them will be sold again and replaced with better players. I have no issue signing these players to get us up as signing pl quality players is difficult as that’s where they want to play!
Rafas clearly scoped the championship and feels these players will do the job with a few more additions to come in fingers crossed!
SPRINGY
Aug 25, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Comment #9when elliot first played in the cup games he looked very nervous,similar to how sels is playing tbh,but thought he got better with more games and feel he was our most consistent player till his injury,krul was a great prospect as a youngin but seems to have stagnated in his development,plus his distribution is woeful,elliot beats him hands down at that….krul going out on loan could be the kick up his arse he’s needed,sels i will give time to as seen with elliot,poor at first then ended up player of the season,darlow still a bit raw but decent.
Mashley u Batfastard & lambiarse u Cupid stunt
Aug 25, 2016 at 12:39 PM
Comment #10Wenger will not bid for mbemba he is to tight will not splash cash unless it’s a markee signing I.e ozil ,Sanchez let we what knock art is like tomorrow could. Be worth upping the bid to 10 million
lesh
Aug 25, 2016 at 1:48 PM
Comment #11And with Gayle and Mitro being concussed on Tuesday, it just confirms that we need another good striker in this window