Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has said that defender Florian Lejeune is currently in talks over a return to Deportivo Alaves.
The Frenchman was not a part of the matchday squad that lost to York City today.
Lejeune had recently returned to pre-season training, after spending the 2020/21 season with the Spanish outfit.
He played 36 games across all competitions for a total of 3115 minutes.
That constitutes a good season, for a player who has suffered two serious knee injuries since joining Newcastle.
Now, it appears Lejeune will be heading back to Alaves.
Bruce to @bbcnewcastle on Florián Lejeune: “He’s having talks with the club in Spain where he was on loan last season. There could be something happening there. It’s it’s going to be right for Flo, we wish him the best of luck.” #NUFC
— Matthew Raisbeck (@raisbeck10) July 18, 2021
Bruce said: “He’s having talks with the club in Spain where he was on loan last season. There could be something happening there. If it’s going to be right for Flo, we wish him the best of luck.”
It was recently reported that Lejeune was put up for sale by Newcastle.
Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder has tweeted the deal will be a permanent one.
Newcastle may regret selling
Yes he’s had two bad injuries.
But Lejeune making 36 appearances last term and coming through unscathed surely suggests he’d be worth bringing back into the fold.
On his day, Lejeune is arguably the best defender Newcastle have.
If he is indeed to return to Spain, hopefully Newcastle at least secure a decent transfer fee.