Newcastle are said to be interested in Ghana World Cup star Kamaldeen Sulemana – who has been compared to Neymar.
That is according to the Daily Mail, who believe Rennes have slapped a £30m price tag on the 20-year-old.
Now, FIFA have released data which might make Newcastle even more interested in his services.
What’s the story?
Well, Sulemana has now been clocked as the fastest player at the World Cup.
The Rennes No.10 has been recorded running at a speed of 22.18mph in Qatar, which puts him above the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi in the rankings.
Spain international Nico Williams finds himself second to Sulemana in the chart, having been recorded at a top speed of 22.08 during the World Cup.
The Ghana international sadly failed to score or assist a goal for his country at the World Cup before they exited at the Group Stage, although his directness down the flank caused opposition full-backs many issues.
On the domestic scene, Sulemana has scored just one goal in 14 appearances so far this season, while also providing two assists.
Newcastle must sign Sulemana
Some may argue that Sulemana’s goal tally for Rennes and Ghana this season does not merit a £30m bid from Newcastle.
However, it must not be forgotten that the Ghanaian is just 20 years of age, and has the potential to become one of the best forwards in Europe.
Putting end product aside for a moment, Sulemana is already extremely dangerous going forward, with HITC Sport previously claiming that he could be Eddie Howe’s next Allan Saint-Maximin, a tricky winger who also struggles to find the goals and assists to match his incredible displays at times.
Rennes saw enough potential in Sulemana to spend £17m on his signature when he was just 19, having made a name for himself at Nordsjaelland.
In Denmark, his manager at the time – Flemming Pedersen – even likened him to Neymar, saying: “He is extraordinary. We are talking about a player with potential on par with Neymar, and maybe even more than that, because he’s even faster.”
Be sure to keep an eye on Sulemana, as Newcastle could make a move in January.
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