Toulouse centre-back Christopher Jullien has admitted that ‘there was interest’ from Newcastle this summer – claiming he was not ‘ready’ to move at the time, but could be in the future.
The towering defender stands 6ft 5′ tall and appeared to be one of many centre-back’s Benitez was looking at over the summer following a long term injury to Florian Lejeune.
Speaking to RMC Sport, Jullien said the following when asked if he received interest from Newcastle over the summer:
“We spoke of an exit, but I’m here. There was interest, but that’s how it is. We spoke with the manager, realised I was missing a few things.
“He knows football and some players who left for the Premier League, and I’m not ready. I’m here to learn. The day I’ll be ready, maybe I’ll go see elsewhere. For now, I’m very happy here.”
Our interest in the 25-year old may be reignited in future windows, but you get the feeling that another centre-back is the last thing we now need following the signings of Fabian Schar and Federico Fernandez.
Once Lejeune returns, we’ll have FIVE senior centre-backs one our books (Lascelles, Lejeune, Fernandez, Schar and Clark), so I don’t see us having room for another.
As far as a potential future move to Newcastle is concerned, he may well have missed his chance.
