According to Sky sources today, Newcastle are ‘considering’ a move for Crystal Palace left-back Pape Souare, with Benitez identifying the Senegalese defender as a potential option to provide competition for Paul Dummett.
Following claims from TalkSPORT last week that ourselves and Palace were discussing a loan deal for 27-year-old, this perhaps confirms that Souare is a player on Rafa’s radar this month.
It was suggested yesterday that a deal for Chelsea’s Kenedy was stalling, and Sky suggest that Benitez could be set to turn his attentions to the Crystal Palace left-back instead.
Sky Sports confirm #NUFC's interest in #CPFC left-back @papesouare
Would be a solid signing in my opinion. If we're wanting an actual LB, I prefer him to Kenedy. pic.twitter.com/8iLLVic4As
— Black&WhiteBarmy (@BlackWhiteBarmy) January 16, 2018
Souare was Palace’s first-choice left-back not long ago, however was involved in a horrific car accident in 2016 and has stepped up his recovery over the past 6 months.
He now finds himself behind Patrick Van Aanholt and Jerffrey Schlupp in the pecking order however and it has been suggested that he’ll be loaned out this month to get him playing some much needed first-team football again.
Whilst I could not be sure how he has looked following his accident, I remember being impressed by him when I’ve seen him play for Palace in the past.
Sky do not mention whether our move for Souare would be a permanent or loan move, however you’d expect it to be the latter given how we’ve tended to approach deals so far this month.
Here’s what the Chronicle have had to say about the potential deal on their live blog this afternoon: