Ryad Boudebouz – a player regularly linked with a move to Newcastle over the past few seasons – looks set to become the latest player ‘missed out on’ this summer, with the highly-rated Montpellier playmaker all set to complete a move to Real Betis – for a reported bargain price of just €7m (£6.3m).
Given he created more chances per game than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season, combined with his incredibly reasonable fee and our need for a proven number 10, this looks like a deal Newcastle should have taken a look at?
It is worth mentioning that the Algerian has plied his trade in the French league all his career, meaning there is a good chance our reported interest stemmed from previous recommendations from the recently departed Graham Carr – which would explain why Benitez has not pursued him.
Ryad Boudebouz undergoing #RealBetis medical ahead of €7m move – greeted by Verdiblancos fans at Seville airport https://t.co/1aU7Q8ZOz6 pic.twitter.com/k9FmK6k0Pk
— footballespana (@footballespana_) August 8, 2017
Given the previous failings of Remy Cabella and Florian Thauvin, it is easy to see why several of us would see this as a bullet dodged, but given his 11 goals and 9 assists last season, the below stat, our limited resources and the low risk fee that appears to be involved, this looks to me like a player we could and should have taken a look at.
Ryad Boudebouz has created 353 chances in Ligue 1 since 2013/14; at least 115 more than any other player. ? pic.twitter.com/jsY0YJeu4v
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 8, 2017
