Newcastle to rival Crystal Palace in race for £8.6m transfer of Gael Kakuta

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According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United have scouted RC Lens midfielder Gael Kakuta ahead of a potential summer transfer but face competition from Crystal Palace and Fulham.

The former Chelsea prospect is being lined up for a return to the Premier League after dazzling with excellent performances in Ligue 1 this season, to help the Sang-et-Or challenge for European qualification during their first top-flight campaign since 2015.

Kakuta has offered Lens boss Franck Haise 11 goals and five assists in 33 appearances since moving to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on loan last summer, in a deal that will now be turned permanent for €5million (£4.3m) after activating a clause in the terms of his move.

But Kakuta may be on the move again when the summer market opens after being watched by talent spotters for Newcastle, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Watford along with a number of other English sides with Lens open to cashing in for around €10m (£8.6m).

The Toon have also approached the 29-year-old’s representatives to sound out Kakuta’s interest in wearing black and white next season (Foot Mercato), but were informed that the midfielder wishes to focus on ending the season strongly before discussing his future.

Kakuta joined Chelsea from Lens’ academy ranks in 2007 but would only go on to make 16 first-team appearances with the Stamford Bridge natives, between loan spells with Fulham, Bolton Wanderers, Dijon, Vitesse Arnhem, Lazio and Rayo Vallecano before being sold in 2015.

TBR’s view:

Kakuta has enjoyed a nomadic career since first moving to England and has rarely played for the same club in successive seasons, and this summer may be no different if Newcastle or one of their rival Premier League suitors are successful in luring him away from Lens.

His creativity in Ligue 1 this term was bound to attract some interest from English sides with the Sang-et-Or open to doing business for twice what they are set to pay Amiens, having seen the DR Congo international live up to Haise’s expectations from when signed on loan.

“He is a creative player capable of making others play, of creating differences,” Haise told Lens’ club website. “He is comfortable in the stopped phases. We need experienced players who are decisive and able to handle the pace of a match. We expect that from Gael.”

Kakuta rarely showed that while on Chelsea’s books with just one assist and zero goals to show for his efforts, which Newcastle et al. will hope is not replicated if they persist with their interest this summer.