Long-term Newcastle target becomes available for '€15-20m' - One to watch?

Over the past few transfer windows, we've been regularly linked with a potential move for OGC Nice's Khéphren Thuram.

Head of recruitment Steve Nickson is thought to be a big fan of the 23-year-old, with The Telegraph's Luke Edwards revealing that he was identified as a potential alternative to January target Amadou Onana.

Fast forward a few months, he's yet to sign a new deal at Nice and expected to leave the Ligue 1 club this summer, with Nice-Matin reporting that he could be available on a cut-price deal given his contract situation.

After the French club demanded €40m last summer, they claim Thuram could now be available for as little as €15m-20m; a deal that could appeal to Newcastle given our long-term admiration, his age and potential.

That said, it's not clear how much we're prioritising a summer move for another midfielder. Joelinton has signed a new contract, we're hopeful of keeping Bruno Guimaraes, we have Sandro Tonali to come back, Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley emerging as first-team players and Joe Willock; who may feel 'like a new signing' when he finally recovers from an injury-ravaged 2023/24.

One argument, however, is that Sean Longstaff is approaching the final 12 months of his contract and could be sold for 'pure profit' as a home-grown player, should we decide to reluctantly cash in. It's all very hypothetical, but Thuram could be an impressive 'replacement' for Longstaff if we did sell the 26-year-old Geordie.

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