Newcastle owners to ‘prioritise’ key Leicester star; talks already underway

Wesley Fofana Leicester

Newcastle United’s new majority owners, the Saudi Arabia public investment fund, will reportedly green light a huge Premier League transfer in 2022.

Newcastle fans were delighted on Thursday following a £305million takeover of the club. The Saudi-backed consortium have taken an 80 per cent stake, while PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media own the rest.

The Magpies have now become the richest club in world football. Their owners are over ten times more wealthy than Manchester City’s, who were previously the richest team in England.

The takeover has seen a number of top players be linked with a move to St James’ Park. Tottenham star Dele Alli is reportedly on their wish list, as is Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

Neither is as eye-catching as one bid currently being planned. French outlet RMC Sport (via Sport Witness) write that the Newcastle owners are hoping to sign Wesley Fofana from Leicester City.

The 20-year-old is one of the top young centre-backs in the league following an impressive breakthrough season in 2020-21. He made 38 appearances in all competitions as the Foxes finished fifth in the table and won the FA Cup.

It’s reported that Newcastle officials have already held initial discussions with Fofana’s representatives. The defender has been made a ‘priority’ by those in the north east, who view him as a youngster with world-class potential.

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A bid is expected to be submitted once Fofana returns from injury. He has missed the start of the campaign due to a serious injury suffered in pre-season.

Leicester will undoubtedly hold out for a major transfer fee. Brendan Rodgers is a big fan of the Frenchman and will not want him to leave, especially for an English rival.

The player was signed from Saint-Etienne for £36.5m in September last year.


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Newcastle in for top Napoli star

It could be a busy few months for Newcastle as they look to overhaul the first-team squad. Defence looks like one part of the team which will be completely changed.

Italian outlet Area Napoli claim that centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is of interest to the Magpies.

The 30-year-old has previously been a Manchester United and Man City target. A bid has failed to materialise in each of the last two summer transfer windows, leaving him in Italy.

Napoli rate Koulibaly at £42.5m. Newcastle chiefs have no problem matching that fee and are prepared to bid next year.

They could be looking to partner Fofana with Koulibaly at the back, which is an exciting proposition.

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