According to the Sun, Newcastle are ‘in talks’ with Reims over a potential deal for French forward Remi Oudin, with Rafa Benitez keen to sign TWO strikers if he stays at St James’ Park this summer.
The piece also states that Rafa’s asked Mike Ashley to wrap up a permanent deal for Salomon Rondon, with Wolves and West Ham both showing serious interest.
Oudin was linked with a move to Tyneside the weekend before last, with L’Equipe claiming we’d made an initial approach, and the Sun seem to think that Rafa wants both him AND Rondon signed up this summer.
They claim that Watford have already had a £7m offer rejected for the 6ft 1′ attacker, reporting that Reims are holding out for around £10m.
The 22-year-old – who can play up top or out wide – bagged 11 goals and 3 assists last season, helping Reims to a 9th place finish in Ligue 1.
He’d certainly fit the transfer blue-print Mike Ashley’s said to have reintroduced, being young (22), relatively cheap (£10m?) and showing signs of real potential, but it remains to be seen if he is a genuine target of Rafa’s.
After all, there’s only so much you can believe from the Sun – especially when Benitez is yet to actually agree any new contract at the club.