According to Media Foot, Newcastle have made contact with Monaco over a deal to sign Sofiane Diop.
What’s the story?
Well, the French news outlet believe Eddie Howe has been trying to sign Arnaud Kalimuendo, a forward who is also supposedly on the radar of Leeds.
However, Paris Saint-Germain are not sure whether to keep or sell the Frenchman, and their hesitance seems to have caused Newcastle to look elsewhere.
Media Foot believe the Magpies are now focusing their attention on Diop, and an enquiry has already been made.
Newcastle have asked Monaco how much it would take to sell the 22-year-old, while they have also made enquiries about what the France Under-21 international would like to earn on Tyneside.
At the moment, Diop is said to earn £11,000-a-week, a salary Newcastle could easily treble if they wanted to.
Interest in the Monaco No.7 – who is said to be keen on a move to the Premier League – comes after he scored nine goals in 45 appearances last season, while also providing seven assists.
Newcastle could sign a gem in Sofiane Diop
In our view, Howe could be about to sign a genuine wonderkid.
16 goal involvements in all competitions for a player so young is very impressive, and the £20m prodigy has even caught the eye of Cesc Fabregas as a result of his eye-catching talent.
The Spaniard shared a dressing room with Diop during his time at Monaco, where he claimed that he’d like to see the youngster play for Liverpool or Bayern Munich one day.
Fabregas said: “Today, I feel like I have won the respect and the sympathy of this younger generation. I hope I have helped. We like each other. I will continue to follow them, talk with them. I would like to see Fofana, Diop or Tchouameni at Bayern or Liverpool!”
By the sounds of it, Diop is a seriously bright talent, who would be an excellent signing for Newcastle following the failed pursuits of Hugo Ekitike and Kalimuendo.