According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle are hoping to beat Liverpool to the signing of highly-rated Middlesbrough talent Bilal Brahimi – however Rennes are currently favourites for his signature.
This isn’t the first time we’ve been linked with a move for the 19 year-old winger, with French reports stating that we were interested both in the summer of 2018 and again in September last year.
Here’s a snippet from TEAMtalk’s ‘exclusive’, with the Paris-born attacker looking set to leave on a free after failing to agree to a new contract:
‘Middlesbrough look set to lose one of their brightest prospects in the shape of Bilal Brahimi, we can reveal.
‘The French teenager joined Boro in 2017 from Portuguese side Leixoes, making his first-team debut in the League Cup earlier this season.
‘Liverpool and local rivals Newcastle are both keen on the player, but we understand that Ligue 1 side Rennes, who were recently knocked out of the Europa League by Arsenal, are more likely to win the race for his signature.’
Brahimi has played once for Boro’s senior side – featuring for 45 minutes in their League Cup win over Rochdale last year – with him recently being promoted to their U-23 Premier League 2 side after recently turning 19 and impressing at U-18 level.
There’s been several talented players added to our U-23 ranks since Rafa’s arrival at the club, so let’s hope Brahimi is another one – although we may have our hands full with Liverpool and Rennes also in the mix.
Here’s him in action (it’s not hard to spot him with his Coloccini-esque hair!):
