The big news today – so far – is that Newcastle have triggered the release clause of £8.7M for 26 year-old Eibar center-half Florian Lejeune.
Lejeune is one of the center-backs we have been linked with recently, but it looks like Rafa Benitez has now decided Florian is one of the center-backs he wants at Newcastle this summer.
And if we are to believe the news from Portugal over the last few days, Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Semedo looks to be the other center-back Rafa has gone for – the 23 year-old is now valued at about £12.1M by the Lisbon club.
Good close-up shot of 6ft 3ins tall Florian Lejeune
Here are some reactions to the news on Twitter:.
were linked with this player last week and he is a big strong player at 6ft 3ins and was released only last summer by Manchester City, but had an excellent first season in Spain and attracted some top clubs.
The People are reporting today that Newcastle have agreed a fee of £8.7M for Eibar center-half Florian Lejeune, after triggering the release clause in his contract at the Spanish club.
Previous reports had said that Eibar valued their player at £8.7M – now we know why.
Florian Lejeune looks a bit like Toby Alderweireld. If he plays anything like him we’ll have a top defender on our hands! ? #NUFC
— Jamie Pyle (@J90Pyl) June 4, 2017
If Rafa signs both semedo and lejeune surely he’s just replaced both starting centrebacks.. #ruthless #nufc
— Jay Holz (@JayHolz1) June 4, 2017
Close to signing florian lejeune from eider according to lee ryder, 2 new cb if him n semedo sign #NUFC
— DavyBaty81 (@david_baty) June 3, 2017
Another day another player linked to #NUFC this time Florian Lejeune of Eibar has a £8.7M release clause.
— Steven Johnson ???? (@GeordieLad10) June 1, 2017
Casual strike from potential new #nufc signing Florian Lejeune https://t.co/4hJtDbxbLk
— Toon Tom (@youmeandnufc) June 4, 2017
Gibbs and Lejeune today then….#NUFC
— Toon In Toon Out (@toonintoonout) June 4, 2017
We are hearing Benitez wants to bolster his defence and will sign 26 year-old French center-back Florian Lejeune. #NUFC #Transferpro
— Transfer Agent (@Transferpro) June 1, 2017
Report: Newcastle to make second summer signing after paying Florian Lejeune’s £8.7m release clause #nufc https://t.co/EKIW9CVP76
— footballsource (@footballsource_) June 4, 2017
32 comments so far
nightfa11
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Comment #1Never heard of him or semedo.. But having 2 starting cbs with no pl experience sounds fun 😀
nightfa11
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:44 AM
Comment #2Reina
Yedlin semedo/lejeuen mangala Gibbs
Shelvey sigurdsson carvalho
Ritchie Tammy batsuyashi
only 100 mio and change.. Luckily we have a billionaire owner..and dead wood in access of 2 mio
ShirebrookToon
Jun 4, 2017 at 10:57 AM
Comment #3Let’s aim to be 1st next season
http://www.themag.co.uk/2017/06/st-james-park-rated-3rd-best-england-atmosphere-newcastle-united-leeds-united/
cyprus
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Comment #4Gibbs, sagna, Delph, would be excellent additions.
Given the CB s we’re looking to get it and the keeper, it would appear he considers the current line up to be below par.
I disagree. I think he should start from the top and go backwards till he runs out of money, not the other way round.
But then I’m not on 5 million a year.
Levi
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:14 AM
Comment #5i dont really want this to be true as the thought of mangala is exciting and I’m a huge fan of Maguire but I cant see us signing either of them if we have gone for semado and this guy
switch365
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:18 AM
Comment #6Loving the fact that our defence, which has been so neglected year after year, is once again seen as a priority for Rafa to improve upon.
I’ve long held the thought that it is only the failure of strengthening our back 4, that has prevented us becoming the team we could have been.
Blofal
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #7It’s surprising me that for all the players that we have been linked with – very few have been attacking midfielders. And that is the position I think we struggled most with in the Championship!
Rotonda heights
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:23 AM
Comment #8not really sold on maguire or mangala, who while both are good on the ball don’t have great recovery pace. Not saying this guy has but I think semedo is fairly rapid
WWSBRD
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Comment #9Blofal
Maybe we arent going to be playing with a number 10 or its just very early in the window
SPRINGY
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #10Rotonda
Have to agree with u on maguire….only seen very little of the lad in honesty but was less then impressed when i did….mangala….tbh,nee idea
OneAlanShearer
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:40 AM
Comment #11Nightfa – looks good but bats I think has been linked as a make weight with Monaco more likely. Sigurdsson no chance. Carvalho I’d live but I think might be out of our range.
Reina
Yedlin semedo/lejeuen mangala Gibbs
Shelvey sigurdsson carvalho
Ritchie Tammy batsuyashi
So the side then looks less impressive.
I do think rafa needs to build from the back and it is not as strong as it needs to be. On clark is the right level. Lascelles I have doubts over his pace. Yedlin quick going forward but again defensively not sure. Dummett gets stuck but I think he’s ok not great but steady. Not so much when coming forward. Hanley is not good enough. We need a better keeper. We have good ones but not a great one.
It’s all about raising the level up. Rafa knows that and it’s encouraging to see. However I doubt some of the links have any truth.
OneAlanShearer
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #12I’d stick a fork in reina now looks a no go.
TikiTakaAcca
Jun 4, 2017 at 11:56 AM
Comment #13Rotonda
You judging that by their ‘Pace’ in FIFA?
Your comment is laughable.
Everybody knows Mangala is quick across the floor. He’s just a bit clumsy but still an excellent signing for a team like us.
Also, everybody putting Yedlin in their teams? He’s so bad. Needs to go back and run track or something, not a footballer.
jazzyp
Jun 4, 2017 at 12:02 PM
Comment #14Stories so bizarre this morning. Now being reported we are going to meet the 15 mill Arsenal want for Gibbs
WWSBRD
Jun 4, 2017 at 12:08 PM
Comment #15Tiki
Howay Yedlin clearly isnt bad he was a stand out player at a World Cup, has PL experience at RB and had a very good season with us last year pretty sure that makes him a footballer
WLtoon
Jun 4, 2017 at 12:08 PM
Comment #16How much money does Benitez have to spend? i dont think he has as much as some of the bloggers think . Some articles are claiming he has to go for cheaper options, and he has to move players out in order to fund moves for other players. I think some people are getting carried away with some of the rumours and actually believe we have a chance. Why do bloggers still put Reina in their stating 11 when its been stated several times that he is,nt interested in joining us. Two weeks ago we were being linked with players around the 20- 25 M range, Cairney and Deeney are just two of the many that we were linked with. Now its players around 10 -15M range that we are linked with. Maybe next week it will be 5-10M.
Pootle2118
Jun 4, 2017 at 12:34 PM
Comment #17Must admit, I know squat about this guy or Semedo but I’ll trust Rafa’s judgement. As far a Sigurdsson goes, I’m not so sure that we’d have no chance. If we slapped a bid in of £25M + Diame, I reckon that would get Swansea’s attention.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 4, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Comment #18Either my refresh button it broke or this is just another one days lately!
U.S Magpie
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:19 PM
Comment #19Thank God, finally we actually have a manager in place that understands that you build from the back.
I hope Rafa get all the players he wants to bring in and he can start preseason training and friendlies with what he feels would be the starting 11. On another note, this Tammy thing with him talking to Brighton? Ok I get he live near Brighton but isn’t it Chelsea who says where he goes to? I mean, if I was Chelsea which manager would I feel would give the best education. Don’t get me wrong I love Chris Hughton but Rafa has way more world class experience, so surely Chelsea would want him managing this Kid.
LewSpi v2.0
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:19 PM
Comment #20Just 7 away from the 100 mark.
Goalkeeper
Ionut Radu – tuttomercatoweb
Jordan Pickford – The Sun
Tom Heaton – The Sun
Orestis Karnezis – Tuttoudinese
Pepe Reina – The Sun
Willy Caballero – The Times
Defender
Callum chambers – The Mirror
Harry Maguire – The Chronicle
Kevin Malcuit – France Football
Gregory Van Der Wiel – HITC
Ryan Shawcross – The Independent
Carl Jenkinson – The Chronicle
Josef Yarney – HITC
Ben Gibson – The Guardian
Davide Santon – Tuttomercatoweb
Jozo Simunovic – The Daily Mail
Luca Caldirola – Sky Sports
Mikael Nade – France Football
Kieran Tierney – The Daily Star
Brian Oviedo – Diez (HITC)
Abdul Baba Rahman – The Mirror
Eliaquim Mangala – The Daily Mail
Peter Ankersen – InsideFutbol
Ruben Semedo – A Bola
Wes Morgan – The Sun on Sunday
Nathan Ake – The Chronicle
Kieran Gibbs – The Sun on Sunday
Phil Barnsley – The Daily Mail
Efe Ambrose – The Scottish Sun
Andrew Robertson – Graeme Bailey
Jeison Murillo – Gazzette dello sport
Andrea Ranocchia – The Chronicle
Miguel Layan – Sport Witness
Florian Lejeune – The Northern Echo
Bacary Sagna – Daily Mail
Marvin Zeegelaar – Record
Midfield
Gylfi Sigurdsson – The Sun
William carvalho – A Bola
Sam Clucas – The Guardian
Fabian Delph – The Guardian
Aaron Ramsey – HITC
Jean Michael Seri – HITC
James McCarthy – Telegraph
Tom Cairney – Telegraph
Oghenekaro Etebo – OwnGoalNigeria (HITC)
Yaya Toure – The Sun
Fernando – The Daily Mail
Gabriel Pires – Marca
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – The Chronicle
Ryad Boudedouz – Talksport
Aaron Mooy – SBS The World Game
Mehdi Abeid – L’Equipe
Carles Aleñá – The Sun
Afriyie Acquah – Ghanasoccernet
David Lopez – Pericos
Winger
Marcus Coco – Sun on Sunday
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Croydon Advertiser
Bright Osayi-Samuel – HITC
Frank Acheampong – HITC
Moussa Sissoko – CalcioMercato
Jay Rodriguez – The Chronicle
Christian Atsu – Sky Sports
Tom Ince – The Mirror
Oghenekaro Etebo – A Bola
Nicolas Pepe – L’Equipe
Yann Karamoh – L’Equipe
Andros Townsend – The Chronicle
Clinton Mata – Foot Mercato
Dion Pereira – Evening Standard
Tom Lawrence – The Chronicle
Seyi Ojo – The Chronicle
Kamil Grosicki – Hull Daily Mail
Ismaila Sarr – Mercato
CF
Willian Jose – Daily Star
George Thomas – The Independent
Andre Gray – The Chronicle
Jamie Vardy – Ladbrokes News
Jermaine Defoe – The Sun
Tammy Abraham – Ladbrokes News
Jay Rodriguez – Daily Mail
Daniel Sturridge – The Guardian
Jonathan Walters – The Telegraph
Sandro Ramirez – SPORT
Kasper Dollberg – HITC
Arnel Jakupovic – The Daily Star
Chris Wood – Yorkshire Evening Post
Josh King – Northern Echo
Mattia Destro – Football Italia
Kelechi Ihenacho – The Chronicle
Henry Onyekuru – Le Soir
Ashley Barnes – ESPN
Michy Batshuayi – HLN
Olivier Giroud – Jeinny Lizarazo (Pelatazo)
switch365
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:24 PM
Comment #21To be fair we’ve had great keepers and protected them with poor-average defenders.
I’d happily continue with Darlow/Krul/(Eliott/Woodman) with a quality back 4 in front of them. Clark has been a far better player for us than he was for Villa he works extremely well with Lascelles. RE: Lascelles, only he, Rafa and the physio’s know how much his performances were effected by his injury. Yes he had a few stinkers but who didn’t? On the whole together they were as good as anything since Albert and Peacock.
Krul To Be Kind
Jun 4, 2017 at 1:37 PM
Comment #22Albert and Peacock… There a blast from the past… How I loved that big Belgian, he was as tough as teak!
G
Jun 4, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Comment #23Never rated Darren Peacock, always seemed a yard behind and rash in the challenge. Was happier with Howey at the back, when hishamstrings weren’t going twang that is.
Harley
Jun 4, 2017 at 2:45 PM
Comment #24Never heard of this player but I have to trust Rafa knows best. A bit gutted if we don’t get Mangala after being linked with him so heavily.
Someone earlier on here said Mangala had no pace?!!! It’s probably his biggest asset. This blog can be crazy at times!!!!
sing in the corner
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:01 PM
Comment #25What about Wes Saunders? Big lump of a centre half. He was a bit of a figure of fun among me and my toon mad mates at school. He was ok…til he turned to a life of crime. (Got busted for shoplifting or something I think!? A pair of gloves from Marks n a Sparks ‘allegedly’…someone once said, probably)
nut meg
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:15 PM
Comment #26Sing
Wes Saunders did walk out of a shop without paying for a pair of gloves,don’t recall what shop it was but can remember his nickname …gloves. He’s also the father of x factor singer Lola Saunders.
ShirebrookToon
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:16 PM
Comment #27Woah wtf has just happened to this layout
clinath@ed
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:19 PM
Comment #28The numbers have gone, and what do we do with the hearts…?
ShirebrookToon
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:20 PM
Comment #29Clin
We break em lol
sing in the corner
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:24 PM
Comment #30Hahaha 🙂
sing in the corner
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:25 PM
Comment #31I think it’s the thought police coming for me for my Saunders comment!
clinath@ed
Jun 4, 2017 at 3:36 PM
Comment #32I got 2. Don’t get that many on FB