Soon after Newcastle’s takeover was confirmed last Thursday links to sensational transfer targets began to emerge. Almost right out of the gate, Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho was again touted as one of the consortium’s preferred targets
The 29-year-old playmaker was heavily linked last year before the takeover’s seeming demise in July 2020. The abrupt completion of the sale last week has the former Liverpool midfielder back on the radar for a potential move in January.
The Brazilian is not the only Barcelona player linked with a winter move to Tyneside. The Sun is citing a report from Spanish outlet Sport that central defender Clement Lenglet has emerged as a January target as well. According to the report, Newcastle have asked about the Frenchman’s availability.
The 26-year-old has seen his playing time slashed at Camp Nou with just over 90 minutes of football played this season. The arrival of former Manchester City center-back Eric Garcia as a free agent has seen Lenglet drop down the pecking order. Garcia has become the preferred choice to partner with Spanish international Gerard Pique.
Even when the 20-year-old is unavailable, he’s had a straight red and double booking already this season, Ronald Araújo has been selected over Lenglet. The French international has become 4th choice after making 29 La Liga starts last season.
Lenglet joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2018 for £31.7m. He’s since made 137 appearances for the club while becoming a full French international (14 caps). Last October, he signed a new six-year contract to 2026 which has a £255m release clause.
While that may seem like a massive obstacle to the defender coming to St. James’ Park, Barcelona recently revealed they were in debt to the tune of £1.15bn. So they could be willing to work out a deal for a player who is currently wasting away on their bench.
61 comments so far
Pottsclock
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:15 PM
Comment #1@niafron “Vive La Toon”
DaraghL
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:17 PM
Comment #2Does this mean we won’t be signing Hamza Choudhry 🙁
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:19 PM
Comment #3@Mc toon and the others…
Ok, no need to translate, they said absolutely nothing except ” according to our informations, the magpies are in touch with the acquaintances ( l’entourage ) of Wesley Fofana.”
The remaining are public informations.
THe word “entourage” is pretty vague, could be his inner circle… or not.
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:24 PM
Comment #4Ok so, more detail here:
https://www.msn.com/fr-fr/sport/football-americain/mercato-un-grand-espoir-fran-c3-a7ais-premi-c3-a8re-cible-du-nouveau-et-puissant-newcastle/ar-AAPqeql?ocid=uxbndlbing
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:26 PM
Comment #5My sources tell me in January we’ll sign:
Lingard – £15m
Tarkowski – £10m
Kamara – £15m
Tagliafico – £10m
Harry Kane – £150m
DaraghL
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:27 PM
Comment #6Finding it very hard to believe any of the transfer speculation. I suspect journalists are sat there with a game of boggle trying to spell out players to link us with….don’t expect Aubameyang in the news anytime soon.
Will be interesting to see who is truly lined up. I must say of all the players ‘linked’ Chiesa is by far the most alluring. Young, exciting and world class, him and ASM would be worth the ticket price alone.
hibbit
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:27 PM
Comment #7niafron good afternoon my friend ,
always such valuable information from you merci beaucoup,
mctoon
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:30 PM
Comment #8Yes, I second that .. merci niafron
JP...from The Rock
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:31 PM
Comment #9We had better not get Adrea Villa-Boas he’s bloody useless. I’ve had multiple Spurs fans complaining at how terrible a manager he is. That football director Henrique we’re linked with wants to work with Villa-Boas again. I hope we get neither.
IrishRob
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:32 PM
Comment #10Starting to look very much like they are keeping Bruce on for a few games isn’t it. The mind boggles 🙁
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:34 PM
Comment #11They say:
“Selon nos informations, les Magpies sont entrés en contact avec l’entourage de Wesley Fofana. Le défenseur de 20 ans, courtisé par le Real Madrid l’été dernier, devient une piste prioritaire des nouveaux propriétaires saoudiens.
According to our informations, the magpies are in touch with the acquaintances of Wesley Fofana. The 20 years old defensive player, courted by the Real Madrid last summer, become a top target for the new saudi owners.
“Désireux de taper un grand coup pendant les prochaines fenêtres de transfert, le fonds d’Investissement public (PIF) d’Arabie Saoudite a fait savoir à Leicester qu’une offre concrète pourrait arriver dans les prochaines semaines, une fois le joueur revenu de blessure. ”
Wishing to hit hard during the next transfer windows, the PIF from Saudi Arabia informed Leicester a concrete offer could arrive in the next weeks, after the player came back from his injury.
Pottsclock
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:35 PM
Comment #12To suggest that we have been contacting clubs about player availability would imply that we don’t want the new manager or the pending DoF to sanction these signings. For me, that’s horse putting the cart before.
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:44 PM
Comment #13I think this is solid. RMC is the media of reference about sports ( and especialy Football ) in France.
Sure, it’s just a first contact, doesn’t mean he will come. At least, this give an idea of what the new owners are looking for.
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:46 PM
Comment #14It’s hogwash.
IrishRob
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:47 PM
Comment #15For me I think more than anyone a realistic but unreal signing would be Zaha. Could you just imagine him onnthe right and St Maximin on the left omfggggggg. And its completely reasonable to suggest we get him. For me there’s your marquee signing right there.
For midfield get Aouar, and defence get Tarkowski.
cleveleysbob
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:49 PM
Comment #16Maybe they contacted Leicester about Fofana as way to open discussions with Rodgers. 😉
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:51 PM
Comment #17In all likelihood, a claim like that is probably instigated by the agent of the player.
Been out for a while injured, let’s link him with the biggest story of the moment in a bid to keep his profile up.
SholaShow
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:52 PM
Comment #18All kinds of agent shenanigans goes on now.
IrishRob
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:52 PM
Comment #19Can we not bring up Rodgers, he screams mediocrity. There’s something about him I never liked.
Optimistic prime
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:54 PM
Comment #20Scattergun approach.
Nothing to see here, move along..
Until a DOF is in place I’m extremely skeptical of any players or managers touted.
Until we get a DOF in any managerial appointment is likely to be temporary.
It’s cheap clicks, nothing more.
IrishRob
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:55 PM
Comment #21I’ll cry if they keep Bruce on in the interim and one of the other managers like Nuno or Oli get fired first. I’ll loose my big pay off from betting for Bruce to be sacked.
Optimistic prime
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:59 PM
Comment #22I find Lampard and Gerrard being linked as ridiculous.
Neither have done anything to even put them in the running for the job.
They’ve practically zero experience between them.
I don’t really understand why the link or why anyone would think either is a good idea.
I’d be gutted to get either even.
niafron
Oct 12, 2021 at 3:59 PM
Comment #23@Sholashow
Yes, it’s always the risk with such informations. But as i said, RMC is the reference, they got a reputation to defend, they perfectly know how it work and they generaly check their informations with several sources.
So i think there’s really more than propaganda from an agent.
@cleveleysbob
I didn’t transltate that part cause i first found it irrelevant, but the article also say this:
“Si le joueur a toujours mis en avant son attachement aux Foxes et son entraîneur Brendan Rodgers, les prochains mois risquent d’être mouvementés autour du défenseur français.”
If the player always showcased his attachment to the foxes AND BRENDAN RODGERS, the next months could be tumultuous around the french defensive player.
lochinvar
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:07 PM
Comment #24Not sure I want Kane and his stroppy attitude.
Guess being picky comes when we’re top dog.
Zhongguo Geordie
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:07 PM
Comment #25Catchy,
Back when Bruce had luckily finished his first season on 40 something points, your argument was the table doesn’t lie and he was therefore as good as the previous manager. You completely dismissed anyone pointing out the numerous lucky wins Bruce got, even when our players themselves used phrases like ‘daylight robbery’ to describe our wins.
Yet now, you are saying ‘credit where credit’s due’ to Bruce who is on 3 points from 7.
Zhongguo Geordie
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:08 PM
Comment #26We deserved to lose no question against Man Utd, West Ham, Southampton. We deserved to get a draw when Jones visibly changed tactics against Leeds (although Leeds were slightly better). Next game we kept Jones 433 tactics and deserved to win. Villa were a shadow of their usual self but were still unquestionably the better team, as were Wolves.
So we deserve 3-4 pts. And that is purely down to Jones switching to his hallmark 433 formation during Leeds and Watford. Aside from Jones’ ‘intervention’, Bruce hasn’t deserved a single point despite matching West Ham and Man U for half a match. Truth is they tore us apart the other half.
TheTinman
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:09 PM
Comment #27Why is he still here 😐 🙁 😥 😡
TheTinman
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:10 PM
Comment #28Do we know if Wilson is fit for the weekend?
lochinvar
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:11 PM
Comment #29If I think too much about Sunday I start to wobble, is that normal?
Proof positive that we’ve been living in the Matrix and have now slip sided into another dimension.
One giant step for Toon, one giant leap for Toonkind.
magscar
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:18 PM
Comment #30Fun though it may be it’s a waste of energy to me dwelling on speculation probably even wilder than it usually is because the new owners are not yet in a position to be open so who knows?
Press have even a wider than usual palette of stories to choose from and embroider and it’s great for them but clickbait for us
If much of it were true then I am even more going to have to put my faith in the decisions being the right ones for this situation and at the right time
It is all we can do as they work through our difficult situation and give our trust and support
Moonraker15
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:19 PM
Comment #31Irish
They can’t keep Bruce on for any games.
If we don’t win on Sunday with him on the touch line he will be hounded out of the stadium.
If the new owners think we’re passionate they’ve seen nothing like it will be Sunday and we don’t want that pr!ck anywhere near Newcastle for this celebration match!
Moonraker15
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:22 PM
Comment #32Catchy
“Credit where credit is due” my ar$e!
Get rid of him now or put him on gardening leave while negotiating his severance pay!
He’s useless!
cleveleysbob
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:26 PM
Comment #33Talk of Lampard getting a short term deal, apparently well liked by Jamie Reuben and in discussion with club.
Moonraker15
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:27 PM
Comment #34Bruce has to go this week!
He’s obviously (even he knows) a dead man walking, so why put him through torture on Sunday.
Also we can’t afford to lose more points through poor tactics.
dcdick
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:27 PM
Comment #35Makes me smile when even a huge operation like PIF gets caught out by the capitulation of the premier league cartel. So far they haven’t done anything apart from meet & greet what they have bought. Time to move now Amanda seeing as you seem to be the public face of NUFC, please, please, please just get shot of Bruce & let Jonesy handle the Spurs game while you sort out a manager. You know, I thought I had seen it all since my first game at (a very different) SJP in 1951…..what do I know then…………… never a dull moment at the toon 🙂
TheTinman
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Comment #36I’d take Lamps on a short deal. Can he start tonight?
Might also utilise him in the CM for a few weeks
cleveleysbob
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Comment #37If true, probably an “until end of season” deal as a trial.
Get us into top 10 and you might have a new career son! 😀
Warwick Hunt
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:28 PM
Comment #38https://fb.watch/8v1-a4CVJB/
canny lad
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:36 PM
Comment #39We cannot have Bruce anywhere near the ground Sunday. There were reasons why NUFC was dying on its feet. Yes, Ashley was key, but Charnley and Bruce have to be booted out now. OK, do it with respect and cushion the fall with $$$$ but get rid please.
canny lad
Oct 12, 2021 at 4:38 PM
Comment #40Unless the idea is that 15 mins before kick-off a chopper lands in the centre circle. Out steps KK and Bruce rushes over to give him a piggy back round the touchline as KK does a lap of honour. That is the only serious reason I can think of for having that smell fester on into the weekend.