Reports in France are that Newcastle have put in a massive bid of €25M (£18.4M) for former French International target Alexandre Lacazette.
The Lyon striker was a target of Newcastle’s over the last two or three years, but of course he’s still unproven in the Premier League and could take time to settle in England – just as Aleksandar Mitrovic has done this season.
Alexandre Lacazette – long term target for Newcastle
French daily L’Equipe are reporting today that Newcastle have made the massive bid for the 24 year-old striker.
If the bid is accepted it would be a record signing for Newcastle and would beat the £17M paid out to Real Madrid for Michael Owen in 2005.
What this also tells us is that Graham Carr is still running the show at Newcastle – and Alexandre has been tracked by the Chief Scout for well over two years now.
The report is that the offer was made by Newcastle representatives last week, but with Euro 2016 starting in June, Lacazette is not too keen on a move to a new club this month, because it could jeopardize his chances of making the French squad.
In the past the striker has always maintained he would want to join a Champions League club if he did leave Lyon and of course with Newcastle 3rd bottom of the league that will not help us too much either in the pursuit of the striker.
We wouldn’t be surprised if a bid has been made for Lacazette as Carr has shown he keeps his interest in players he has scouted in the past.
And only in the summer another big favorite of his – Florian Thauvin – was signed for a massive £13M and hasn’t seen too much success yet at Newcastle.
One question we would have is what tells the powers that be at Newcastle that Alexandre would immediately produce at Newcastle and get the job done for us if he arrives.
Most players take time to adjust to English football.
Mitrovic and Thauvin are good examples of that – and a safer bet with much less risk would be to sign a striker who had proven he can score goals in the Premier League.
But that doesn’t seem to be the way Newcastle do business.
The other thing is that signing him in January means Lacazette will have no pre-season to get used to playing for a new club.
But hey – on the bright side of things – we are reminded that Papiss Cisse made a sensational start to his Newcastle career four years ago with 13 goals in his first 14 appearances for Newcastle.
With Lacazette being a previous target of Newcastle’s, it looks like Steve McClaren has had no input on who he want sin as a new striker this month.
Alan Pardew didn’t have control on who came in either and is one big reason he left for Crystal Palace where he has total control on transfers.
So if we get Lacazette in and he doesn’t produce does McClaren take the responsibility and the accountability for that?
It’s a daft way to run a football club having the Chief Scout decide who comes in and it was a problem when Kevin Keegan was manager and he left because of that – when Dennis Wise was in Graham’s position back in 2008.
At the rime Dennis was the Director of Football.
Lacazette has been at Lyon for his whole career and this season he has scored 8 goals in 22 total appearances for Lyon.
In his total career with one club he has made 208 appearances with 77 goals and 34 assists for Lyon.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
18 comments so far
Slank
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:16 AM
Comment #1This is what L’Equipet went on to say:
Graham Carr, with his smooth skull, his eternal smirk and overweight , has become , over the years and the rise of English clubs , a familiar figure in French stadiums. And , given the early days of the winter transfer window , this finding is not about to change. The recruiter in Newcastle …
The paper also said that the players first reaction was negative.
NezzaNUFC
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:19 AM
Comment #2Funny enough I heard this yesterday before the media got there hands on the info.
This followed by the 2 lads from Borduex ( or however it’s spelt )
Also I heard that Bryam could be on his way here but will stay out on loan first.
These are not actual facts or they are 100% accurate but was right about Austin not coming and that we would sign Winaldum, Chancel, Mitrovic but wasn’t sure on Thuavin.
NezzaNUFC
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:22 AM
Comment #3Not 100% accurate
( Stupid phone )
AncientC
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:22 AM
Comment #4How ridiculous.
Sivarese
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:32 AM
Comment #5Why not put a bid in for Messi while we’re putting in bids for players who’ll never come to the club? What happened to asking the club’s permission to speak to the player, speaking to the player and getting the nod, followed by a formal bid? The player himself has made it clear he’ll only leave for a Champions League club.
solano38
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:33 AM
Comment #6Lacazette is a much more talented player than Thauvin and could do well in the PL. But it’s very unlikely he’ll come to NUFC.
Austin has apparently said he wants to stay in the south, so perhaps this story should end now on this blog?
nufc 11
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:37 AM
Comment #7Idiots the man has been so out of form it’s scary like a certain thauvin it’s some fcuking trust ma has placed in Carr charlie Austin or Remy or far better options ready to go as is the definition of insanity spring’s to mind with this lot.
spitfire_
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:42 AM
Comment #8Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat… He don’t want to fight for survival every single season? Why? For persuasion, we should try our biggest asset. We have inspiring figure as McClaren for head coach.
AncientC
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:42 AM
Comment #9English club with reputation for quashing French flair players, sitting in the relegation zone, handing out contracts with built in reductions should the club go down…
Here you go Alexander, sign on the dotted line pls. lol
spitfire_
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:43 AM
Comment #10And we have in a much much stronger position a few years back, when we got the chance to get him, but then the price was too high for us… and the price was around this one.
Aubameyang and Bony all over again.
sparky55
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:44 AM
Comment #11We shouldn’t even be chasing him…he’s not the type of player who could save us…he plays in a league where most teams are no better than our championship teams, a league where you have so much more time on the ball, a league where fitness levels are no where near where they need to be for the premiership and he has no premiership experience and every other player except Cabaye and possibly Sissoko have had no success in the premiership…SO WHY ARE WE EVEN LOOKING AT HIM FFS
nut meg
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:46 AM
Comment #12I think I’d prefer his team mate Nabil Fekir. He can make things happen by himself but.he’s out until March and It’s now we need to get players in.
Mag52
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:47 AM
Comment #13Slank.
“…….the rise of English clubs”
I hadn’t noticed the appearance of the smirky Carr bird perching in the stadia across the Channel as coinciding with the rise of this English club.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:49 AM
Comment #14a few facts about lacazette 1 missed his last game and dont know if he is still out hamstring .2 is 5 ft 9.3 does not like the cold. 4 apart from game when he scored 3 against lille has been out of form.5 missed 2 out of three penaltys this season. 6 only player i have ever seen trip himself withthe ball. 7 shanks a lot of shots.8 2013 /14 season scored 1 goal more than cabella with less assists. 9 2014 /15 season 6 of his 27 goals were penalties of which only one he was involved in the build up . opinion i dont think he is as good as arma or ayoze and would only be worth signing as asquad player for 5 mill or less.would not get the same time and space as in france and most premiership defences would have him for breakfast . another french flop.
WWSBRD
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:54 AM
Comment #15Rather large drop off in performances from him since last season no?
Realistically if we have actually bid for him then we should know he would be willing to come and join us for what we are willing to offer but with NUFC sounds more like a time wasting exercise
AncientC
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:56 AM
Comment #16Armstrong could end up going the same path as Fraser Forster. Mbabu is out of contract in the summer too.
Now, back to Daniel Levy, will be give us Andros on a deal,
Jib
Jan 6, 2016 at 9:08 AM
Comment #17Just got to love the “fans?” on here !
Lie on your back on the sand look up at the Sun and just let the negativity wash over you.
NUFCJOE
Jan 6, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Comment #18I think it’s difficult to say whether or not he’ll adjust or not. Look at Cisse’s first 6 month at the club