Newcastle United are interested in signing Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir, but the player would snub any move to sign him.
That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who claim the Frenchman is happy where he is.
The Sunday Mirror (11/12, p68) have recently reported that the Magpies are ready to switch their attention to the La Liga star, if their pursuit of Leicester City’s James Maddison fails to make progress.
Even if these rumours turn out to be true, Estadio Deportivo assert that it wouldn’t matter. Instead, they argue that Fekir’s ‘response remains the same’: ‘he doesn’t want to move from Seville’.
The former France international is happy where he is, so a move to Tyneside in January is thought to be ‘impossible’.
Fekir would snub Newcastle
Whilst this would be really bad news if he were the club’s number one target, Eddie Howe still has his sights set on a move for Maddison.
Having bid up to £50m for the attacking midfielder over the summer, the Toon are likely to return – either in January or in the summer.
Although Fekir would be a brilliant alternative, given he has been lauded by Betis president Angel Haro for his ‘tremendous quality’, Newcastle should keep their focus on the Foxes playmaker.
The England international is a realistic option for the club, and he may be more open to the switch now he’s spent the World Cup with a number of the Toon’s stars.
Therefore, with this prospect off the table, Newcastle should spend all their time focusing on Maddison.
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