Brendan Rodgers has offered a clear update on the future of Leicester City midfielder and Newcastle target Hamza Choudhury.
The Foxes boss confirms that the 23-year-old will only be allowed to leave on loan IF he secures the signing of another midfielder before Monday’s 11pm deadline.
Rodgers also confirmed that he’s spoken to Steve Bruce today to clarify Leicester’s stance on Choudhury, with this coming after the NUFC boss confirmed that the former England U-21 is a player he ‘likes’.
Here’s what Rodgers had to say when addressing the matter in his press conference this afternoon:
“I’ve spoken to Steve (Bruce) on Hamza.
“I think for me it’s a case of us needing a more attacking player in.
“If we can do that, then it will give the opportunity for Hamza to go out.
“We can’t afford to lose anyone without getting someone in.”
So, the situation is pretty clear. We want Choudhury and Leicester are receptive to letting him leave – but ONLY if they bring in another midfielder over the next three days.
With this in mind, we’ll have to hope the club are exploring plan B’s just incase Leicester have no joy and refuse to let him leave.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles would arguably be a superior option, with him more versatile and offering the drive we lack in midfield, however it seems Southampton and West Brom are battling to sign him on loan at present.
Strasbourg’s Ibrahima Sissoko is another option if you believe L’Equipe, although that would surely have to be a permanent deal – meaning we may be relying on Ritchie’s exit raising cash to the 6ft 4′ Frenchman who’s been regularly linked with a move to Tyneside over the past 18 months.
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I am finding it hard to understand why players don’t want to come to Newcastle
We have a tremendous training facilities
We have a world class manager
I just don’t understand why they still don’t want to come
Dave(Quote)