According to L’Equipe, Newcastle are interested in signing Anger star Baptiste Santamaria this summer.
The piece claims that both ourselves and West Ham have been monitoring the defensive midfielder all season, but report that Aston Villa have also joined the race.
Santamaria – who’s been an ever-present for Angers over 2019/20 – has been described as one of Ligue 1’s top performing midfielders this season, with Spanish outlet MARCA comparing him to Ngolo Kante in a report crediting Sevilla and Villarreal with interest last week.
He’s turned 25 this month, stands 6ft tall and is a former France U-20 international who’s bagged 2 goals and 1 assist for Angers (so is clearly a holding midfielder who doesn’t get forward a great deal!).
With it being reported several times (both by the Chronicle and the Athletic) that Bruce is after another midfielder this summer, Santamaria could fit the bill based on the type of signing the club have sanctioned over the years.
That said, L’Equipe do suggest he won’t be sold on the cheap this summer, with him still in contract for another two and a half years following his impressive season in France – which could see Angers seal a rare top 10 finish.
