Report: Newcastle in four-way chase for Massadio Haidara's £8.5m midfielder
Foot Mercato claim Newcastle are in the midst of a four-way battle to sign Massadio Haidara’s teammate Seko Fofana, who is shining in Ligue 1.
Fofana, 26, has been on fire for Ligue 1 side Lens. The Ivory Coast international has played 45 times for Lens, having a hand in nine goals.
That is since joining Lens in the summer of 2020 from Udinese, for a bargain fee of £8.5m. He has captained Lens in 10 of his 13 games this term.
Fofana, who turned out 34 times for France’s Under-23 side – having a hand in 15 goals – is now a target for four clubs, including Newcastle.
The Toon are said to be battling Champions League giants AC Milan. Marseille and Atalanta are also said to be interested in signing Fofana.
Fofana currently plays alongside ex-Newcastle wing-back Haidara, who has rebuilt his career in France after a horror injury.
Fofana to Newcastle: A solid signing, if Newcastle can engineer a price
Bought for £8.5million, Fofana will certainly cost more money than Lens spent to buy him. But anything more than £15million would be overpriced.
Such a fee is likely to prove tempting for Lens, though, with French clubs struggling for cash due to a TV broadcasting deal problem.
However, Newcastle do have Joe Willock in the number 10 position. Fofana can play as a box-to-box midfielder, or as a 10 – much like Willock.
