Newcastle United have opened talks with AS Monaco over a possible move for centre-back Benoit Badiashile in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.
The French under-21 international is now on the Magpies’ radar, as we struggle to reach an agreement with Lille for Sven Botman, according to the Daily Mail.
Badiashile has attracted interest from West Ham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United, but it seems that Eddie Howe and PIF are now chasing his signature.
The former Bournemouth manager wants two new centre-backs in the winter window and whilst discussions are continuing regarding Botman and Sevilla’s Diego Carlos, Newcastle are seemingly exploring other potential options.
RONALDO NEEDS TO STOP WHINING.
Badiashile is valued around £35m, according to the Mail, and the media outlet claims that negotiations are ‘ongoing’ as Newcastle run a number of ‘parallel negotiations’ which includes a potential loan deal for Barcelona outcast Samuel Umtiti.
At the age of 20, Badiashile has already amassed over 100 appearances for Monaco who at the time of writing this article sit seventh in Ligue 1.
Although Badiashile is reportedly on Newcastle’s radar, it seems he has emerged as a potential target due to the likes of Botman, Diego Carlos and James Tarkwoski potentially not being available in this window.
Having shipped 42 Premier League goals, the joint-highest, and being dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Cambridge United, Howe is desperate for defensive reinforcements.
There is no denying Badiashile’s talent and he looks destined to eventually secure a big-money move, but signing a 20-year-old who hasn’t played in the Premier League before and doesn’t have that world class mentor next to him, could be a huge gamble.
Signing some of Europe’s emerging stars like Badiashile should wait until the summer when we have hopefully beaten the drop.
In this window we cannot afford to get any of our signings wrong, Badiashile is a risk that could pay off, but it could also go horribly wrong.
Newcastle have to play it safer and look closer to home.
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