Newcastle eyeing 6ft 4′ Salzburg star as player opens door to Premier League move

Newcastle United are showing interest in RB Salzburg centre-back Oumar Solet, according to The Mail.

They report that both Newcastle and Everton are admirers of the 23-year-old and considering a summer move for the former France U20 international.

Solet is attracting ‘major interest’ from a host of European clubs – Serie A duo Inter Milan and Torino are also keen – and has revealed that the prospect of a Premier League move ‘excites’ him.

He stands 6ft 4′ and is known for his ‘pace and combative’ approach. The former Lyon talent has also operated as a defensive midfielder in his career and played six times in Europe last season; four times in the Champions League and twice in the Europa League.

It’s well documented that Newcastle are in the market for a young, athletic right-sided centre-back able to compete with Fabian Schar and add pace to our defence. In that respect, Solet appears to tick plenty of boxes and could be available at a relatively low fee, with him out of contract in under two years time.

Speaking to The Mail about a potential move to the Premier League this summer, he said:

‘I have a lot of ambitions, to be honest. I’m just on my way – for sure the Premier League excites me a lot.

‘I feel it’s a league that I can perform in really well and it can bring me to the top. It’s probably the best league in the would. I feel if I have the chance it’s going to help make me become the top player I want to be.

‘That’s exactly what I need for the next step. I’m a challenger, a competitor, a winner. I have big ambitions in football and outside football. I want to be a really big player.

‘I really want to look at myself in 20 years and be proud of what I did. Let’s see what happens and I will give 100 percent with any team I play with.

‘I’m the type of guy who wants to win everything. I know individually what I can bring but I know how to support my team mates. This is something I am really proud about. I still need to improve but I fee I’m in a good way of doing that.’

‘I know people are talking about the interest in me at the moment. But I don’t really pay attention to it. I just want to be focussed on my game because that’s where I’m at the best.

‘I try to ignore all the things off the pitch. But obviously it’s a pleasure to get some interest from other teams because it means I’m doing a great job.

‘It makes you happy. But it’s not the end but I need to keep working hard.’

Solet then revealed his Champions League ambitions after experiencing his ‘proudest moment’ in Europe with Salzburg last season, also discussing what he offers as a centre-back:

‘My proudest moments are playing in the Champions League games with Salzburg. What an amazing feeling.

‘To play against big teams and we really competed against and we challenged them. We made it hard of them. They were incredible moments for me and the team. Hopefully I can have moments like that again in my career.

‘Because nothing can compare. Everyone is watching you – and to hear the anthem of the Champions League is incredible.’

‘When you are defender you need character and attitude to show no one can pass you. I want to impress the strikers, to make them afraid of you. To make them struggle. It goes all together.

‘I’m a quick player and feel like I’m strong. I think I’m a player who is ready for the 1v1 situations – I like to compete with strikers. This is my mindset. For any team I feel I can bring something with my quality and intelligence.’