Newcastle United reportedly wanted Stoke City’s Badou Ndiaye in January.
Newcastle United have guaranteed their Premier League status for next season, and manager Rafael Benitez will be looking to land new signings to boost his squad this summer.
The Magpies could stand to add players in a host of positions, but central midfield may be a particular concern, especially given the ongoing confusion over Mikel Merino’s future.
Mohamed Diame has impressed in 2018 and Jonjo Shelvey continues to be the heartbeat of the midfield, but adding another midfielder must be a priority, especially as Diame may regress to his mean next season.
Adding athleticism alongside a deep-lying playmaker like Shelvey could be smart, especially given how well he and Diame have played together, and Stoke City’s Badou Ndiaye could fit the bill.
The Daily Mail reported in January that Newcastle wanted to land Ndiaye from Galatasaray before he ended up joining Stoke, and the Senegal international has impressed for the Potters.
The 27-year-old has featured prominently under Paul Lambert, offering a box-to-box midfield option with ability on the ball, a great engine and a combative nature.
With new reports from the Daily Mail suggesting that he has a release clause in his contract if Stoke get relegated, then Newcastle should be ready to pounce – and finally land a player Benitez seemingly missed out on just months ago.
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