Newcastle United will submit an offer for Roma midfielder Maxime Gonalons in the ‘next few days’ according to Calciomercato.
The Italy paper claims that the Frenchman is seen as a ‘low-cost’ replacement for Mohamed Diame, with him expected to leave the Serie A side this summer.
It’s been reported that he will cost around £3.5m-£4.5m this summer – a bargain fee for a former French international – however his age (30) does make me question this one.
He may be a few years younger than Diame (who turned 32 this summer), but a move for a 30-year-old would not fit into Mike Ashley’s infamous transfer blue print – even if he is available on the cheap.
That said, the club may even see him as a cut-price option if and when we sanction Isaac Hayden’s exit this summer, with him wanting out for ‘family reasons’ for over a year now.
An ageing Roma outcast shouldn’t be seen as an adequate replacement for him, however we did sell Mikel Merino for £12m this time last summer and replace him with Ki Sung-yeung on a free.
Time will tell if this one’s true, although he was linked with a move to the club on more than one occasion during Rafa’s time on Tyneside.
Perhaps he’s someone the scouts like – which could be significant given head of recruitment Steve Nickson looks set to have just as much, if not more, power than Steve Bruce when it comes to signings this summer.
