Newcastle United are reportedly open to letting Achraf Lazaar leave the club on a free transfer.
The 28-year-old is something of a forgotten man at St. James’ Park, having not featured for the Magpies’ first-team since 2017.
The Moroccan full-back, signed by former manager Rafa Benitez, has had a few loan spells at the likes of Benevento, Sheffield Wednesday and Cosenza.
That means he’s made just 10 appearances for the Newcastle first-team.
He hasn’t made any of Steve Bruce’s matchday squads this season, and now TMW in Italy report that the defender could be let go for nothing.
Supposedly the club have a good relationship with the player’s new agent and are therefore open to his departure without seeking a fee, with his contract expiring in the summer.
Ideally, the club will be able to move him on during the current window – he is free to talk to other clubs to potentially come to a pre-contract agreement.
Best move for all parties
Lazaar’s stint at Newcastle has been a strange one.
Perhaps he didn’t get the chance he deserved, but then maybe the feeling was that he just wasn’t ever really good enough.
That Lazaar takes home £35,000-a-week (Chronicle) is certainly reason enough for the club to be offloading him.
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